Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said that the national policy was based on tolerance, geopolitical position, economy, religious security and peacekeeping. He reminded that Azerbaijan had been forming ties with other countries since 1991. Islam, Christianity and Judaism co-exist in Azerbaijan. The Jewish community of 35,000 people has had no discriminative acts for 2,500 years, The Hill reports.
Azerbaijan is located on the crossing of Europe, Asia and Middle East. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline delivers millions of barrels of oil to the Eastern Mediterranean daily, fulfilling 40% of Israeli demands for the fuel.
Over 80% of economy of South Caucasus is based in Azerbaijan. The GDP tripled in 7 years, industry grew by 270%, non-petroleum sector doubled. Trade turnover with the US totals $2.3 billion, with Israel $4 billion annually.
Regarding peacekeeping, Mammadyarov said that Azerbaijan was a member of the UNSC, contributed to combating terrorism, drug trafficking, settlement of conflicts in the middle East, assisted in the NATO operation in Afghanistan where 40% of transfers were made through its territory.
Azerbaijan is a member of the CE, OSCE, OIC and serves as a link between the US, Israel and Muslim states. Mammadyarov expressed hope during his visit to Israel and Palestine that they would benefit from peace.
Azerbaijan wants to settle the conflict with Armenia. About 20% of its territory was occupied and 1 million people became refugees. Armenia ignores four resolutions of the UNSC.
