Latest news with #HikmetHajiyev
Morocco World
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Azerbaijan Says Support Morocco's Sovereignty Over Western Sahara is Matter of Principle, Not Diplomatic Favor
In a climate of growing instability across the globe, Morocco and Azerbaijan have taken deliberate steps to reinforce their partnership. During a visit by Moroccan journalists to Baku, Azerbaijani Presidential Advisor and Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, Hikmet Hajiyev, reaffirmed his country's steadfast support for Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara. Hajiyev also described the two countries as bound by mutual respect, shared values, and historical parallels. A partnership rooted in principle Speaking to the visiting Moroccan media delegation, which Morocco World News (MWN) was part of, Hajiyev described Morocco as a 'brotherly country' and commended the strength of bilateral ties. 'We have excellent relations across all sectors. The only issue is the geographic distance,' he said. For Azerbaijan, he added, Islamic solidarity and cooperation with Arab countries remain core pillars of foreign policy. 'We share many similarities with Morocco,' he noted, describing the North African country as a key partner in both the Arab and Islamic worlds. Hajiyev recalled the early roots of the diplomatic relationship, pointing to a historic meeting between Azerbaijan's former leader, Heydar Aliyev, and Morocco's King Hassan II during a summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Casablanca. 'That visit laid the foundation of our ties, not only with Morocco but also with the Arab and Muslim world,' he said. A shared struggle for recognized sovereignty In response to a direct question about Azerbaijan's stance on Western Sahara, Hajiyev offered a firm response: 'We have always supported Morocco's sovereignty and territorial integrity.' He drew a connection between Morocco's position in the Western Sahara and Azerbaijan's own experience with Armenia. 'When we gained independence, Armenia occupied 20% of our territory, including Karabakh,' he said. 'We trusted international law, waited for thirty years, and upheld the UN resolutions. But in the end, we had to act to restore our sovereignty.' After retaking full control of Karabakh in 2023, Azerbaijan, Hajiyev explained, gained clarity on what it means to have sovereignty denied. 'Because we suffered the consequences of occupation, we place enormous value on the territorial integrity of other states. Our position on Morocco's territorial integrity is not diplomatic courtesy, it is a question of principle.' Building on cultural affinity The Moroccan delegation's visit to the National Museum of Literature in Baku included a special exhibition on Azerbaijani journalism, which provided a window into the country's intellectual history. But for Hajiyev, the cultural bond goes far beyond exhibitions. He described a visit by a Moroccan royal who was surprised by the resemblance between traditional Moroccan and Azerbaijani designs. 'He noticed that our ornaments and patterns mirror Moroccan motifs,' Hajiyev said. 'It showed that our cultures have long been in quiet conversation, even without knowing it.' He also pointed to Morocco's hosting of ISESCO, the Islamic world's educational and cultural institution, as a symbol of its standing. 'Morocco is one of the cultural centers of the Muslim world, and we give that special importance,' he said. Azerbaijan, he added, plans to promote further exchanges in heritage, language, and the arts. 'We must make the cultures of both countries better known to each other,' he said. 'Your cuisine, your clothing, your traditions are already familiar here. We want to take this further.' Religious tolerance, intercultural dialogue Hajiyev emphasized the value of tolerance that the two countries share.'In Morocco, Christians, Jews, and Muslims live together in peace. We see the same reality in Azerbaijan,' he said. This, he argued, gives both countries the credibility to speak globally on matters of coexistence. 'There's not only a need for dialogue between civilizations. There's a need for dialogue within them. The divisions in the Muslim world today are growing,' he said. 'Together, we can help change that.' Economic and tourism potential While acknowledging the solid foundation of political cooperation, Hajiyev described economic ties between the two countries as underdeveloped. 'There's great potential for growth in trade, investment, and tourism,' he said. 'Morocco is known internationally as a tourism hub. Azerbaijanis are increasingly drawn to it.' He noted a rising interest in Azerbaijan among Moroccan citizens, reflected in online conversations and social media engagement. 'But awareness is still low,' he admitted. 'That's why visits like yours are essential. You help inform people about what's possible.' Hajiyev recounted his visit to Morocco over a decade ago. 'Friends tell me the country has changed a lot since then. I look forward to seeing that with my own eyes,' he said. Regional stability amid global turbulence Despite the current international turmoil, from the wars in Ukraine and Gaza to tensions between Iran and Israel, Hajiyev said Azerbaijan remains a zone of stability. 'The conflict with Armenia is over. We control our territory, and we live in peace thanks to the wisdom of our leaders,' he said. 'We understand instability. It's all around us. But we also believe in sovereignty, in diplomacy, and cooperation.' This belief, he concluded, drives Azerbaijan's position on Western Sahara, and why it stands as a beacon of support for Rabat's territorial integrity and sovereignty over its southern provinces. 'We know what it means to have your land taken. That's why we defend Morocco's right to its territory, clearly, without hesitation, and condition.' Tags: azerbaijanbilateral tiesMoroccoWestern sahara
Asharq Al-Awsat
04-06-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Baku Seeking to Diffuse Tensions between Israel, Türkiye in Syria
With growing influence after its recapture of Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenian separatists in 2023, Azerbaijan is using its close ties with Israel and Türkiye to defuse tensions between the regional foes in Syria. Azerbaijan's top foreign policy adviser Hikmet Hajiyev told AFP that Baku has hosted more than three rounds of talks between Türkiye and Israel, who are both operating in Syria to reduce what they see as security threats. 'Azerbaijan is making diplomatic efforts for an agreement,' Hajiyev told Turkish journalists in Baku on a visit organized by the Istanbul-based Global Journalism Council. 'Both Türkiye and Israel trust us.' The overthrow of Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad sparked security concerns in Israel. It has since staged hundreds of strikes deep inside Syria, the latest on Friday, to allegedly stop advanced weapons falling into the hands of Syria's extremists and to protect the Druze minority. Israel has accused Ankara of seeking to turn Syria into a Turkish protectorate, raising fears of a confrontation. In Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev is considered a close ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He has consistently aligned himself with Ankara's positions on key international matters, including the Syrian issue. Azerbaijan also enjoys good relations with Israel, which is very reliant on Azerbaijani oil, and is a major arms supplier to Baku. And now Baku, which has established contacts with Syria's new rulers, is pushing quiet diplomacy by facilitating technical talks between Türkiye and Israel. 'We are successful if the two parties agree on a common model that respects each other's concerns,' Farid Shafiyev, chairman of the Baku-based Center for Analysis of International Relations, told AFP. 'Syria, and especially its northern territories, is the Turkish security concern,' he said. Türkiye wants to control northern Syria but also to 'have a stronger presence' around the Palmyra and T4 airbases to ensure security around Damascus, he added. In facilitating Türkiye-Israel dialogue on Syria, Azerbaijan is playing a 'strategic role,' said Zaur Mammadov, chairman of Baku Political Scientists Club. '(It) reflects Azerbaijan's growing influence as a mediator... among regional actors,' he said. Azerbaijan fought two wars with arch-foe Armenia for control of the disputed Karabakh region -- one in the 1990s and another in 2020 -- before it managed to seize the entire area in a 24-hour offensive in September 2023.
Al Arabiya
03-06-2025
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Azerbaijan's quiet diplomacy between Turkey and Israel
With growing influence after its recapture of Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenian separatists in 2023, Azerbaijan is using its close ties with Israel and Turkey to defuse tensions between the regional foes in Syria. Azerbaijan's top foreign policy adviser Hikmet Hajiyev confirmed Baku has hosted more than three rounds of talks between Turkey and Israel, who are both operating in Syria to reduce what they see as security threats. 'Azerbaijan is making diplomatic efforts for an agreement,' Hajiyev told Turkish journalists in Baku on a visit organized by the Istanbul-based Global Journalism Council. 'Both Turkey and Israel trust us.' The overthrow of Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad, with Turkey's blessing, sparked security concerns in Israel. It has since staged hundreds of strikes deep inside Syria, the latest on Friday, to allegedly stop advanced weapons falling into the hands of Syria's new authorities whom it sees as extremists. Israel has accused Ankara of seeking to turn Syria into a Turkish protectorate, raising fears of a confrontation. As a close ally and strategic partner of Turkey, Azerbaijan has consistently aligned itself with Ankara's positions on key international matters, including the Syrian issue. But it also enjoys good relations with Israel -- which is very reliant on Azerbaijani oil, and is a major arms supplier to Baku. And now Baku, which has established contacts with Syria's new rulers, is pushing quiet diplomacy by facilitating technical talks between Turkey and Israel. 'We are successful if the two parties agree on a common model that respects each other's concerns,' Farid Shafiyev, chairman of the Baku-based Center for Analysis of International Relations, told AFP. 'Syria, and especially its northern territories, is the Turkish security concern because of the presence of terrorist groups,' notably Kurdish fighters, he said. Turkey wants to control northern Syria but also to 'have a stronger presence' around the Palmyra and T4 airbases to ensure security around Damascus, he added. Oil shipments to Israel? Ties between Turkey and Israel have been shattered by Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, with Ankara insisting the talks were only technical. 'As long as the war in Gaza continues, Turkey will not normalize ties with Israel,' a senior Turkish official told AFP on condition of anonymity. Turkey has suspended trade with Israel over the war in Gaza. But some Turkish opposition figures have criticized Ankara, claiming trade has continued, notably oil shipments via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline which brings Azerbaijani oil to the southern port of Ceyhan from where it is shipped to Israel. Turkey's energy ministry has dismissed the claims as 'completely unfounded.' Azerbaijan's Hajiyev said Baku had won valuable support from Israel during the Karabakh conflict, but seemed reluctant to comment on the issue of oil. 'We bought weapons from Israel during the war, we paid for them (and) Israel gave us diplomatic support,' he said. 'Azeri oil is coming to Ceyhan, but once that oil is loaded onto ships that sail on the open seas, you cannot control the final destination,' he said. 'These are the rules of the world oil market.' 'A strategic role' In facilitating Turkey-Israel dialogue on Syria, Azerbaijan is playing a 'strategic role', said Zaur Mammadov, chairman of Baku Political Scientists Club. '(It) reflects Azerbaijan's growing influence as a mediator... among regional actors,' he said. Azerbaijan fought two wars with arch-foe Armenia for control of the disputed Karabakh region -- one in the 1990s and another in 2020 -- before it managed to seize the entire area in a 24-hour offensive in September 2023. Baku is now trying to normalize ties with Yerevan -- which, if successful, would be a major breakthrough in a region where major actors including Russia and Turkey all jostle for influence. Turkish analyst Serkan Demirtas said Azerbaijan had stepped in to head off a potential clash between Turkey and Israel over their opposing security concerns in post-Assad Syria. 'A confrontation between its two best allies in the region is a situation Azerbaijan does not want at all,' he said. 'Incoming news shows that progress has been made. This indicates the growing influence of hydrocarbon-rich Azerbaijan in the region after the Karabakh war.'
