Baku supports Palestinian people
By Sara Rajabova
Azerbaijan has once again expressed support for Palestine, saying it stands beside the Palestinian people.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister said Baku's stance on Palestine is well known - the country fully supports the Palestinian people.
Elmar Mammadyarov made the remarks on October 15 at a press conference held after the talks with his Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki, who is on an official visit to Baku.
Mammadyarov said Azerbaijan will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian government.
The parties also agreed to develop cooperation in education field.
Mammadyarov said there are many Palestinian citizens who are studying at universities in Azerbaijan.
Al-Maliki, for his part, said Palestine intends to enlist Azerbaijan's support concerning a new draft resolution on Israel, which the country intends to recommend at the UN General Assembly.
He added that in this regard, Palestine is holding consultations with various countries.
Al-Maliki briefed Azerbaijani side about the issue. He noted that the sides also had fruitful consultations and discussed the situation in the Middle East, Syria, Libya and Lebanon.
He emphasized that Palestine appreciates Azerbaijan's support.
On the same day, President Ilham Aliyev received Palestinian Foreign Minister Al-Maliki. The sides discussed the friendly relations between the two nations.
The two Muslim nations - Azerbaijan and Palestine enjoys friendly relations for a long time. The protocol for the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries was signed in April 15, 1992.
In 2013, Minister Mammadyarov held high-level talks with Palestinian officials within the context of the Middle East peace process and discussed the opportunities of expanding bilateral relations and cooperation within international organizations, economic, trade and cultural relations with Palestine.
Earlier, in June 2011, Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas paid a visit to Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan has always stated that it backs a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which is one of the main issues of concern in the Middle East causing numerous clashes and wars between nations over the past several decades.