Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

Mayor of the Israeli city of Acre Shimon Lankri is on visit to the Azerbaijani capital city, Baku.

In an interview with local media, the mayor said national leader of Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev played a crucial role in the establishment and strengthening of current strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Israel.

He said that the Heydar Aliyev Center is being constructed in the Jordan's Acre city.

Last year an initiative was put forward in 2014 to establish the Heydar Aliyev Azerbaijan House in the city.

The mayor said he would spare no efforts to make the Heydar Aliyev Azerbaijan House an integral part and modern symbol of ancient and multicultural Acre.

"Some 20 percent of Acre's populations are Azerbaijanis. We are constructing this center so that they know more about Azerbaijani history and culture," he said.

The mayor allocated $1 million for the construction of a new multi-functional building of the House of Culture and Heritage “Tikvateynu – Our Hope” and establishment of the Heydar Aliyev Azerbaijan House.

The project will be implemented with the support of Head of Azerbaijani Mountain Jews Community of Acre Nekhamia Shirin Mikhaeli and President of the International STMEGI Foundation German Zakharyev.

During the four-day visit, which was organized by the Baku International Multiculturalism Center and State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations, the Acre mayor will have a number of meetings with Azerbaijani officials. He will also visit the newly-built synagogue and meet members of the Mountain Jews community.

The mayor will also attend a conference on the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which will be co-organized by the Baku International Multiculturalism Center and Baku Slavic University.

--

Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz