Hajiyev: Azerbaijan-Israel co-op not directed against third countries

Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel is aimed at the benefit of the two countries, and not against any third one, Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan - Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration said in an interview with the Israeli i24NEWS TV, Report informs.

Azerbaijan conducts an independent foreign policy and independently chooses its friends, Hajiyev added. This also applies to bilateral cooperation, which is for the benefit of both sides, he said.

The Jews living in Azerbaijan are the country’s brothers and sisters, he noted.

“We are proud of that. With the Jewish community in such an inclusive way a part of Azerbaijani society and we are proud that there was no single case of antisemitism in the history of Azerbaijani people. And we also highly appreciate and value contribution of the Jewish community to the flourishment of Azerbaijan’s culture and Azerbaijani statehood not just today, in the late 19^th century or even far before,” he said.

The large Jewish community of the country is an important basis for friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel, for further deepening these relations thanks to people-to-people contacts, human contacts between the citizens of the two countries, the presidential aide said.