PALESTINIAN AMBASSADOR: MAHMOUD ABBAS WILL VISIT AZERBAIJAN THIS YEAR – INTERVIEW
APA
Jan 22 2010
Azerbaijan
Nagorno Karabakh problem is similar to Palestinian problem
Baku. Lachin Sultanova, Ibad Bagirov – APA. APA’s interview with
ambassador of Palestinian Autonomy to Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan Asad
Al Asad
-When will Palestinian embassy begin functioning in Azerbaijan?
-As you know my office is located in Tashkent. The aim of my visit to
Azerbaijan is to get acquainted with the building allocated for us,
the house, where I will live, open our embassy here. We consider that
the embassy will officially start functioning within two months. I am
glad to be in Azerbaijan. I will return to Uzbekistan and after the
handover process leave for Azerbaijan. I feel that I have friends,
acquaintances here. Azerbaijan’s rapid development makes me happy. I
am sure that Azerbaijan will become a modern, developed sate in a
few years, Azerbaijanis will be proud of their country.
-How many embassies does Palestine have?
-Palestine has embassies in 93 countries.
-What changes happened in the relations of the two countries after
the visit of Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Al-Maliki to Azerbaijan?
-The relations began to strengthen after this visit. The minister’s
visit once more demonstrated that Palestine and Azerbaijan have deep
relations, these relations will develop. Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev invited Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to Azerbaijan.
Palestinian leader accepted this invitation with great pleasure. He
is expected to visit Azerbaijan soon this year.
-What is the level of political, economic, commercial and humanitarian
relations between the two countries? What is being done to expand
and deepen these relations?
-Azerbaijan and Palestine have historical relations – we have a
common history. Hundreds of Palestinians graduated from Azerbaijani
universities. Tends of Palestinians are studying in Azerbaijan. 18
Palestinians entered Azerbaijan Medical University last year. It shows
that Palestinian authorities and people are satisfied with the level
of education in Azerbaijan.
-Do the students study at the expenses of Azerbaijan, or their own
expenses?
-Some of the students get scholarship, some study at their own
expenses. Palestinians are also studying in the Diplomatic Academy and
other universities. We plan to increase the number of these students.
– Are there economic relations between the countries?
– Yes, there is cooperation between the private sectors. Business
people attend the chambers of trade and exhibitions. More active
cooperation is in the field of agriculture, but these relations are
not in the government level. We hope that the economic relations will
be developed and intergovernmental agreements and contracts will be
signed after the opening of Palestinian embassy in Baku.
– Is Palestine satisfied with the position of Azerbaijan regarding the
Middle East problem? Can Azerbaijan mediate solution to this conflict?
– The Palestinian state is satisfied with the position of Azerbaijan,
which keeps solidarity with the Palestinian people and is against
the isolation of Gaza Strip. Azerbaijan always votes in favor of
Palestine in the UN Security Council. I don’t consider Azerbaijan’s
mediation real.
– Are you satisfied with the approach of the Organization of the
Islamic Countries?
– OIC is representing 57 Islamic countries and its position describes
positions of all of these countries. Undoubtedly OIC is against the
Israeli occupation of the Palestinian lands. We are the OIC member
and agree with its position.
– Do you know Nagorno Karabakh conflict? What is the Palestinian
attitude toward this issue?
– Nagorno Karabakh problem is like the Palestinian. When Jewish people
faced with Holocaust in Europe, they took refuge in the Palestinian
lands, but then they expelled Palestinians from their homeland. The
same problem was experienced in Nagorno Karabakh. Azerbaijani people
gave asylum to the Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh. Armenians were
settled in Azerbaijani lands and they committed grave crimes against
the Azerbaijanis expelling them from Nagorno Karabakh and occupying
the Azerbaijani lands. We hope that justice will win in both Palestine
and Nagorno Karabakh.
– Is the appointment of Arab League’s ambassador to Turkey related
to the diplomatic scandal between Israel and Turkey last week?
– I don’t think that they are related to each other. Turkey is the
Islamic country and has principal position on the Palestinian problem.
We respect the Turkish people and government. We are same Umma with
Azerbaijani and Turkish people. Turkish and Palestinian people have
same roots. Turkey is an influential country in the world. Therefore
it is necessary to establish relations with the Arab League, UN and
European Union.