Israel halts recognition of Armenian genocide, Azerbaijani official explains: 'Turkey's interests are a red line'
A senior official in Azerbaijani President Aliyev's office claims Israel has halted the advancement of the initiative to recognize the events of 1915 as the Armenian genocide, following diplomatic pressure from Baku. Hikmat Hajiyev, the president's aide, said in an interview with Haber Global that Turkey's interests, a 'sister country', constitute a 'red line' for Azerbaijan. According to him, the Azerbaijani president ordered an intensive diplomatic effort with Israel, and the Israeli side took the messages seriously. The issue was reportedly removed from the Knesset's agenda, and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar presented the decision but it was not brought to a vote. Israel has not issued an official response.
A senior official in the office of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev claims that Israel has halted the advancement of the initiative to recognize the events of 1915 as the 'Armenian genocide', following messages and diplomatic pressure from Baku. Hikmat Hajiyev, an aide to the president and head of the foreign policy department in the presidential administration, said in an interview with Haber Global that the issue of Israeli recognition raised deep concern in Baku, because, in his words, Turkey's interests - which he called a 'sister country' - constitute a 'red line' for Azerbaijan. According to him, when the issue rose on the agenda, the Azerbaijani president ordered an intensive diplomatic effort with Israel. 'We conveyed to the Israeli side the message that adopting such a decision would be unjust, would not reflect historical reality, and we do not see it as an appropriate step,' Hajiyev said. He further claimed that 'the Israeli side took Azerbaijan's messages seriously', and as a result, 'further progress on the issue was prevented'. Hajiyev also emphasized the close alliance between Baku and Ankara, noting: 'Wherever Turkey is not present, Azerbaijan is present, and wherever Azerbaijan is not present, Turkey is present.' According to the report, the Israeli government halted the advancement of the initiative, and after the pressure, the issue was removed from the Knesset's agenda. Israel has not issued an official response. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar presented the decision in the Knesset, but it was not brought to a vote and was removed from the agenda. Last month, sources involved in Israel-Azerbaijan relations said that Baku views the government's decision as a 'crossing of a red line' by Jerusalem, which 'did not reciprocate the support the Azerbaijanis provided since the outbreak of the war'. According to the sources, there is deep disappointment in the Azerbaijani leadership over how the decision was received and the message it conveys. Contrary to the impression created, Sa'ar spoke with his Azerbaijani counterpart only after the decision was published, in order to update him - not to consult.