Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Jan 11 2007
Azerbaijan is a model for religious liberty in the world,
US-published Jewish journal writes
[ 11 Jan 2008 14:27 ]
Gabriel Lerner, editor of La Opinión, the largest Spanish-language
newspaper in Los Angeles, published an article `Azeri Jews: Centuries
of coexistence in Azerbaijan’ in Los Angeles Jewish Journal, APA’s US
bureau reports.
The article writes that unlike other countries Jews are represented
in the highest level in Azerbaijan.
`Maybe 12,000 in a population of 8 million — their presence is known
and acknowledged, especially that of the Jews of Quba,’ the author
writes.
Gabriel Lerner notes that Jewish cemetery in Quba is very clean and
Jews live in splendid houses. The author met with Yevda Abramov, the
Jewish member of the Azerbaijani Parliament.
"Our rabbi, butcher, mohel, chazzan — all were educated in Israel."
Yevda Abramov said.
According to Abramov, his country is a model for religious liberty in
the world, "especially compared to Armenia," he emphasizes, where
"there are not even 10 Jewish families today."
If there is a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan," Abramov says,
"many Jews will die. In the war for Karabakh, the first fallen hero
was Jewish Albert Aqarunov.
Yevda Abramov took the American journalist to a "recently discovered
mass grave" – the remains of hundreds of Azeris slaughtered by
Armenians in 1918 in Quba.
Israeli ambassador to Azerbaijan Arthur Lenk also said that
Azerbaijan serves as an example to Muslims states.
`Their relationship with Israel, in business, energy and regional
interests, is a compelling example of tolerance and coexistence. They
are an important partner of Israel; here, we buy one-sixth of our
oil." Arthur Lenk says.
In his article Gabriel Lerner also presented his interviews with
Nazim Ibrahimov, chief of State Committee on Work with Azerbaijanis
Living Abroad and Hidayat Orujov, chief of State Committee for
Religious Affairs. The journalist touches on Nagorno Karabakh
conflict and writes that one million Azerbaijanis have been displaced
as a result of Armenian aggression.
This is the second article about Azerbaijan published in Los Angeles
Jewish Journal the circulation of which is 150,000. The first article
was the interview with Azerbaijani Consul General to Los Angeles Elin
Suleymanov. /APA/