The EAJC Director General attended the official celebration of the Independence Day of Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijani Embassy in Tel Aviv hosted its first-ever official event commemorating the Independence Day of the Republic. The solemn ceremony was attended by high-ranking politicians, diplomats, academics, business leaders, journalists, as well as public and state figures from Israel and Azerbaijan. Notable attendees included Israeli Minister of Intelligence Gila Gamliel, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Fariz Rzayev, Chairman of the Interparliamentary Friendship Group Vladimir Beliak, Leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party Avigdor Liberman, and Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Defense Eyal Zamir.

Among the guests was also the Director General of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC), Dr. Haim Ben Yakov. In discussions with the leadership of the Azerbaijani diplomatic mission, the parties agreed on an official meeting between the Ambassador of the Republic and the leadership of the Congress to discuss in detail bilateral relations between Jerusalem and Baku, as well as critical matters concerning the Jewish community of Azerbaijan.

Opening the event, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Israel, Mukhtar Mammadov, spoke about the history of the independent state and highlighted the "strategic level" of cooperation recently achieved between Jerusalem and Baku.

In her turn, Israeli Minister of Intelligence Gila Gamliel identified the secret of the close relations between the two countries as "mutual respect and trust." She recalled her meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and emphasized that the leaders of both states "work together to ensure peace and stability in the region and throughout the world." According to her, the Jewish community residing in Azerbaijan plays a prominent role in fosterng bilateral relations.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Fariz Rzayev noted that the year 2023 marks the 105th anniversary of the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan and the centenary of the birth of the national leader Heydar Aliyev. He also congratulated the attendees on the 75th anniversary of Israel's independence, celebrated in April 2023. The Deputy Minister emphasized that cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel across various sectors continues to evolve, pointing out the "great potential" for future growth.

The Azerbaijani Embassy in Tel Aviv officially opened in March 2023. The Azerbaijani diplomatic mission became Israel's first official representation of a state with a majority Shia Muslim population.

“Throughout its existence, Azerbaijan has consistently demonstrated its status as a highly respected, tolerant, multicultural, and multi-faith nation. The fusion of tradition and historical heritage on one hand, with openness to the values of the modern world on the other, enables the country not only to pursue a balanced domestic policy but also to strengthen its international ties. Early last year, Azerbaijan became one of the few Muslim countries where International Holocaust Remembrance Day is observed as an official state date. Today, we witness yet another step towards the Jewish people and the State of Israel with the opening of the embassy in Tel Aviv. I am convinced that this gesture will serve as a launchpad for a new phase of bilateral cooperation between our states in the fields of culture, science, and the economy,” stated the President of the EAJC, Dr. Mikhail Mirilashvili.