AZE.US
Criticism of Azerbaijan in parts of the Turkish media following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at the U.N. General Assembly does not reflect Baku’s full position on the Middle East conflict, Azerbaijani political analyst Ilgar Velizade said.
Velizade, who heads the South Caucasus Political Scientists Club, made the comments during an appearance on Daily Europe Online.
The discussion followed the presence of an Azerbaijani diplomat in the hall during Netanyahu’s address. Some political groups in Turkey interpreted the diplomat’s decision to remain as a sign of Azerbaijani support for Israel.
Velizade called that interpretation unfounded, arguing that a diplomat’s presence during a speech does not by itself define a country’s foreign-policy position.
He said opposition to Israel’s actions brings together different political forces in Turkey, including groups that criticize the Turkish government on other issues. Some of them, he said, expect Turkey’s partners to make equally forceful public gestures.
Azerbaijan nevertheless conducts an independent foreign policy, Velizade said. Baku supports a two-state solution involving Israel and Palestine and considers East Jerusalem the capital of a future Palestinian state. At the same time, Azerbaijan maintains long-standing economic and security relations with Israel.
“There are many opportunities for confidential and frank dialogue between allies,” Velizade said while discussing the disagreement surrounding the U.N. episode.
In his assessment, Azerbaijan’s relationship with one partner does not require it to abandon ties with another.
Source: Vesti Baku.