Azerbaijan Claims Israel Halted Armenian Genocide Recognition: "Turkey's Interests are a Red Line"
A senior official in the Azerbaijani President's office claims that Israel halted the initiative to recognize the events of 1915 as the "Armenian genocide" following diplomatic pressure from Baku.
A senior official in the office of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev claims that Israel halted the promotion of the initiative to recognize the events of 1915 as the "Armenian genocide" following signals and diplomatic pressure exerted by Baku.
Hikmet Hajiyev, assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration, said in an interview with the Haber Global network that the issue of Israeli recognition caused deep concern in Baku because, according to him, the interests of Turkey—which he called a "brotherly country"—constitute a "red line" for Azerbaijan.
"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 a proper step," said Hajiyev.
He further claimed that "the Israeli side took Azerbaijan's messages seriously" and that 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." He added that both countries will continue to respond decisively to any step that he says harms their interests.
According to the report, the Israeli government halted the promotion of the initiative, and after the pressure exerted by Azerbaijan, the issue was removed from the Knesset's agenda. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar presented the decision in the Knesset, but it was not brought to a vote.
Sources involved in the relations between Israel and Azerbaijan said that in Baku, they view the government's decision as "crossing a red line" by Jerusalem. According to the sources, there is deep disappointment in the Azerbaijani leadership regarding the way the decision was made: Sa'ar spoke with his Azerbaijani counterpart only after the decision was published with the aim of updating him—not to consult.
The office of Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar stated in response: "The Armenian genocide was recognized unanimously by the Israeli government's decision. This decision stands and will not be changed."
