Interview by Peter Lukimson, exclusively to VK
The elections of the new chairperson of the Israeli-Azerbaijani Friendship organization are due to take place in early June. This organization is the principle lobby of Azeri interests in Israel. Official Baku doesn’t try to hide the fact that it supports the candidature of Alex Miller, 35, MP, “Israel is Our Home” party member, the head of the Parliamentary commission for education. VK correspondent in Israel Peter Lukimson met with Alex Miller and asked him about his possible chairmanship of the Israeli-Azerbaijani Friendship organization.
- Mr Miller, what made you put forward your candidature for this post?
- For me it is a sort of a return to the origin. Even though I was born in Moscow, my mom is from Baku, my mother’s family lived there. I use to visit this city a lot as a child, so I know a bit about its atmosphere, about the Azeri culture and traditions. That is why I was suggested to try to run for the post in this organization that unites Azeri natives. It is really interesting for me.
- Have you been to Baku after you moved to Israel?
- Unfortunately no. It so happened that I haven’t been to Azerbaijan since the beginning of the Karabakh conflict, and it started when I was practically a kid…
- And what is your personal opinion on the parties’ position in this conflict? Do you monitor the situation in Azerbaijan?
- I don’t think that Israel should get involved in this conflict and take sides. It is more important to consolidate the Azeri community in Israel, support its cultural individuality, as promote Azeri-Israeli economical and cultural relations.
- How important these connections are for Israel?
- The essence of the current policy of Israel is that there are no ‘unimportant countries’ for us. The times when they thought that Israel wants to support good relations only with the US and EU are gone. Each state has one vote in the UN, and we can build a constructive relationship with each state. Good relations with Azerbaijan are very important for Israel due to a number of factors. But I think this relationship is at least as much important for Azerbaijan. That is the basis of my work in the Friendship organization if I get elected. The fact that I am an MP, just like the previous head of the organization, should facilitate the inter-parliamentary contacts between our two states.
- You’ve said that Israel shouldn’t take sides in a conflict between two peoples. But when the parliamentary commission you are heading discussed the issue of recognizing the Armenian genocide you were against it…
- Yes, but it’s not about Israel recognizing the fact of the genocide or not. I believe that such issues shouldn’t be settled by a small group of politicians. Politics is fickle, but genocide – it happened or did not happen, you can’t change your mind about it. Specialists should answer such questions.
- But the commission decided to continue debates on this issue. When will it happen?
- As far as I know (and I head the commission) such a discussion isn’t scheduled for the foreseeable future, and non of the MPs plans to put it forward for discussion again.
