A group of activists of the Armenian community of Israel tried to sabotage a conference entitled “The strategic union of Israel and Azerbaijan” devoted to the anniversary of the Khodjaly tragedy. The conference was initiated by the society of friendship between Azerbaijan and Israel “AzIs.” Other organizations participated in its organization too: Sh. Daniel Avraam Strategic Dialogue Center, STMGI – Israel, the Academic College of Netania and the Heydar Aliyev Fund. The conference was conducted by former health-care minister, deputy defense minister and one of the leaders of the Labor Party, Efraim Snae.
The conference was very interesting. The issues touched on at it will be discussed among political scientists for a long time. However, nobody expected to witness a provocation.
Efraim Snae: “Why is the world silent?!”
At the opening ceremony Dr. Efraim Snae made a fluent historic review of relations between the Azerbaijani and Jewish peoples. He concluded that the current economic, political and military union of Israel and Azerbaijan is a logical development of these relations. Dr. Snae remembered his visit to Azerbaijan in 1994 and meeting Heydar Aliyev: “I remember how Heydar Aliyev told me that he wanted to increase the living standards in Azerbaijan to a level at which Jews who had left the republic would return. It was very an anti-Zionist statement, but it was full of love and respect for our people. Today Azerbaijan is a rapidly developing country, which is reaching Israel's level in some spheres. And neighbors should learn from its example.”
However, the most interesting part of his speech was devoted to the Khodjaly tragedy: “I think the West is mean and double-faced toward Azerbaijan. Europe uses Azerbaijani oil, but it is not eager to bring to court the butchers who committed murders in Khojaly. Europe stands for a new world order, but closes its eyes to the fact that a majority of Azerbaijani territory is occupied and millions of its citizens are refugees. When it touches on Israel, they say we should provide negotiations, according to the scheme “land for peace.” But nobody demands the same principle from Armenia, even though the fact of occupation is obvious.”
Do you want a row?
After his speech Efraim Snae gave the floor to a deputy of the Azerbaijani parliament, Dr. Ganira Pashayeva. “At first I wanted to speak English, but coming here I understood that many of you speak Azerbaijani. That is why I will speak in the language of my people. It is a pleasure to feel that I'm among friends. Our countries have friendly relations, and friends should be friends, even if some of our neighbors don't like it. Our friendship is possible due to the Jewswho left Azerbaijan and moved to Israel, they are a part of our Diaspora and peoples. I think the Jewish people can understand the pain of our nation from the genocide in Khojaly like nobody could. Those who committed the genocide were not punished. Moreover, they rule Armenia today...”
- It is your view only! - a woman speaking Azerbaijani interrupted Pashayeva. - You did it by yourself!
Dr. Pashayeva tried to continue but her words were drowned out by new shouts in Hebrew and English:
- Everything you say is a lie!
- There is no occupation! It is the rescuing of Armenian lands! Your genocide is your tale!
At this moment it became clear that there were about 20 representatives of the Armenian community of Israel, who were indignant at the speech of Pashayeva. The audience responded by demanding the uninvited guests to leave the hall. When they refused to do so, men sitting in the hall began to get to their feet. Probably it was the aim of the demonstrators: causing a fight, calling the police and closing the conference before it could be opened. Pashayeva was the first to understood it.
- Dear friends! - she said in a microphone. - Please, calm down! Unfortunately, this is not the first time that supporters of Armenia have tried to prevent speeches by Azerbaijanis all over the world. But now I would like to address the woman who interrupted me. Try to forget about the confrontation between our peoples. Try to assess the events in Khojaly from the point of view of a human being. Don't you see cruelty of the committed crime? You say we are lying. Let's admit that all photos, video records, evidence of witnesses are lies. We are subjective. But what about the many international human rights organizations and their assessment of the Khojaly tragedy? Are they lying too? Let's organize an objective international investigation. But Armenia refuses to bear witness to Interpol.
Why does Azerbaijan threaten Iran?
A tutor from Haifa Univeristy, Dr. Avinoam Idan, focused his speech on the fact that the Azerbaijani model of development of Islamic democracy is ideal: “It should be emphasized that the main difference between Iran and Azerbaijan is that religion doesn't influence the current foreign policy of official Baku. It enables Azerbaijan to build constructive cooperation with the West. It defines the approach of Baku and Jerusalem.”
A professor from Jewish University in Jerusalem, Eldad Pardo, disagreed with his colleague: “It should be realized that in Iran it is not politics that serve religion, but religion is suppressed by politics and ideology. Azerbaijan demonstrates that Shiah Islam can be tolerant and humanistic. Being an Islamic state, it differs from Iran in its level of freedom, development and culture. That is why Azerbaijan is a threat to Iran. It is not Shiah Islam ruling Iran, but Khomeini Islam.” As for the behavior of the representatives of the Armenian community, Professor Pardo said: “These people behaved disgracefully. However, it is not about their behavior only. It is bad that the Armenian side of the conflict doesn't want to admit the truth. It is not ready to ask forgiveness for Khojaly. Until one of the neighbors is ready to admit its responsibility, there will be no constructive dialogue.”
Petr Lukimson, Israel. Exclusively to VK
