Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said at the joint with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu press conference that the relations between Azerbaijanis and Jews have always been very good.
The President noted that Jews have lived in Azerbaijan for centuries. "It’s their home, they feel themselves at home, and they do a lot in order to strengthen our country. This was during the times of the Tsarist Russia when Azerbaijan was part of Russian Empire, this was during Soviet Union times and now for 25 years of independence relations between the people, all the people who live in Azerbaijan is a good example of multiculturalism, mutual respect, and respect for each others’ traditions, religion," Trend cited him as saying.
Ilham Aliyev pointed out that respect for your own religion and tradition starts with respect for traditions and religions of your neighbor. He reminded that 2016 was declared the year of multiculturalism in Azerbaijan. "Azerbaijan is recognized in the world as one of the international centers of multiculturalism. I am glad that our citizens, our former citizens – Jews who live now in Israel – keep close ties with Azerbaijan. They help us, they promote us," the president concluded.
