BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 5. President Ilham
Aliyev commented on reports regarding Azerbaijan’s possible
participation in international missions in the Gaza Strip in an
interview with local television channels,
Trend reports.
The head of state noted that it remains unclear who would
mandate such missions and how they would be carried out,
emphasizing that Azerbaijan does not intend to participate in
“peace enforcement” operations.
“Participation in battles outside Azerbaijan’s borders is not
envisaged by me at all,” the President said, stressing that they
have no intention of risking the lives and health of Azerbaijanis
for the sake of others. “When we were in trouble, we were left to
our own fate. No one protected us. Furthermore, with all due
respect and sympathy for Palestine, Palestine did not particularly
protect us either. Yes, there were resolutions from the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) supported by everyone. We
are grateful to all countries for that, just as Azerbaijan has
always supported Palestine and the creation of a Palestinian state
in the UN, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the OIC. The Palestinian
Embassy operates in Azerbaijan with the support of Azerbaijani
financial assistance. Therefore, I have always maintained that the
affairs of Arab countries should be resolved by the Arab countries
themselves.”
