Yeni Musavat, Azerbaijan
Dec 30 2008

Azeri parties condemn Israeli attacks on Gaza

Some Azerbaijani parties and organizations have denounced the latest
raids by Israel on the Gaza Strip, the opposition Yeni Musavat
reported on 30 December.

The paper reported that the opposition Musavat Party discussed the
issue on 29 December. It quoted the party deputy chairman, Qabil
Huseynli, as saying that "we denounced Israel’s horrible and violent
actions and demanded that a cease-fire be announced soon, humanitarian
aid be rendered to the region, the blockade on Gaza city be lifted and
other measures be taken".

The report added that Huseynli urged Azerbaijan to demonstrate a
clear-cut position on Israel’s actions.

"Azerbaijan has friendly and diplomatic ties with Israel. However,
without taking anything in view today we denounce the latest
developments in the Gaza Strip as they are inhumane," Huseynli told
the paper.

Huseynli was quoted as saying that the party planned no protests.

Meanwhile, the paper itself added that "it is interesting that in some
countries like Azerbaijan, we cannot observe official or unofficial
protests and a sharp public reaction to the developments. A silent
approach to the developments by Azerbaijan, which suffers from the war
and has lost lands and people as a result of Armenian occupation, is
especially incomprehensible".

Yeni Musavat reported that the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan also
condemned the raids in its statement issued on 29 December.

"We urge Muslims of the world to put an end to indifference to the
mass elimination of Palestinians and unite in one front in the fight
against the enemy for the sake of Muslims, Islam and humanity," the
party said in its statement.

The paper quoted the party’s press secretary, Akif Heydarli, as saying
that the party was going to stage protests outside the Israeli
embassy.

"We demand that the Israeli embassy in Azerbaijan be closed down,"
Heydarli said.

Yeni Musavat added that the head of DEVAMM, the non-governmental
Centre for the Protection of Freedom of Conscience and Religion, Ilqar
Ibrahimoglu, urged the Azerbaijani government to express its position
on the issue.

"I think Azerbaijan should express a clear and obvious position on the
issue in the near future… I think Azerbaijani officials should
express a clear position on the issue and denounce it," Ibrahimoglu
said.

Report added that the Karabakh Liberation Organization issued a
statement denouncing the attacks on Gaza, demanding an end to Israel’s
attacks on Palestinians. The organization also urged the Azerbaijani
government to raise the issue at international organizations and
render humanitarian aid to people in Gaza.