Baku, YJC. Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hikmet Hajiyev briefs Iranian reporters in Baku.
Hajiyev who was speaking to Iranian reporters in Baku on
Thursday pointed to points of similarity between Iran and Azerbaijan, adding "There are many values that bring Iran and Azerbaijan close together. After
the collapse of the Soviet Union Iranians proved to be our friends
and brothers showed their support
for the country.”
The Azerbaijani diplomat continued in
response to questions from reporters
about the nature of his country’s relations with the Zionist regime and said "Relations between Israel
and Azerbaijan's political, economic, military sections
are not a secret. Azerbaijan purchases Israeli arms to strengthen its defense. We have territories occupied by Armenia, which may sustain
their action, and we have to strengthen our military
power.”
Hajiyev
added that Iran is familiar with the issue of invasion
from the days of Saddam Hussein. At that time European countries would not sell
arms to Iran. Unfortunately, we are at a similar situation now and cannot buy
weapons from the West, which defines the nature of our relations with Israel in
the military field.”
Iran occupies
special place in Azerbaijan’s foreign policy
In response to a question regarding the odds that an Israeli
drone_ downed by Iran a while ago_ could have been flown from Azerbaijan he
said "The reports were published by some Italian or French media, but I believe
that those who contribute to the story want disagreement to grow.”
"It is a pity that
some media say that Azerbaijan is planning to allow a third country to use its
land to attack that country. First and foremost the Azerbaijani government, and
secondly the people of the country will not allow such a thing. Such reports
are mere dreams and hallucination.”
Iran is by itself capable of destroying enemies’ drones and
that is something we have to say "mashallah” [Arabic expression of praise] about,
he maintained.
The diplomat further stated "We are happy that Iran
recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. I see the two country’s future
relations as the best of the best.”
Providing comments on the issue of Palestine as questioned
by a reporter he said "We have had a clear view on Middle East issues, Palestine
included. The lands occupied after 1967 have to be returned to Palestinians and
a Palestinian country has to be established with Jerusalem as capital.”
He also pointed to his country’s membership in international
Islamic organizations and said "In these organizations, we have stressed our
clear positions and we believe that the occupied lands have to be given back to
Palestinians.”