Azeri MP demands apology from Iran
An Azerbaijani parliament member has demanded an apology from Iran
over a recent slew of strongly-worded criticism and accusations
against Baku that followed the conviction of a ring linked to the
Iranian secret service.
Addressing Tuesday’s sitting of the Milli Majlis (parliament), the leader of the Whole Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, Gudrat Hasanguliyev, said Iranian Ambassador Nasser Hamidi Zare should be summoned to the Foreign Ministry and that Tehran formally apologize.
On December 10, an Azerbaijani court convicted a group of 15 persons on charges of spying for the Iranian secret service, attempt to stage a coup and establish Islamic law, and other grave crimes. Sayid Dadashbayli who headed the ring known as "Sayid’s gang" was sentenced to 14 years in jail, while the other defendants were handed down sentences between two and 14 years. The National Security Ministry said the criminal group had passed to Iranian agents information on Western embassies, companies, pipeline operations and employees operating in Azerbaijan from 2005 to 2006. Iran reacted angrily, labeling the statement as actions "by elements in the lower echelons of power" and citing complicity of US and Israeli intelligence.
Hasanguliyev expressed concern over the fact that the Azerbaijani ambassador to Tehran Abbasali Hasanov was summoned by the Iranian Foreign Ministry and demanded to provide a formal apology for the alleged anti-Iran statements.
"Instead of apologizing to us, they summoned our ambassador and expressed protest," the party leader said.
Hasanguliyev said Azerbaijani government agencies should appeal to the UN Security Council over the ascertained facts.
The MP accused Iran of persistently taking an improper position when it comes to issues concerning Azerbaijan. He reminded that the recent publication of the "History of Azerbaijan" atlas by two prominent Azerbaijani academicians was unfairly met with hostility in neighboring Iran.
"This caused outrage in the Iranian parliament and media. They are telling us not to write history or teach it to our youths," Hasanguliyev added.
In October, Iran came out strongly against the maps published in Azerbaijan, with a senior lawmaker describing this as an indication of the hostile policy pursued in the region by the United States and Zionists.
The atlas published by the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences indicated the territories of Iran and some neighboring countries in the original version – as Azerbaijani land.*
Addressing Tuesday’s sitting of the Milli Majlis (parliament), the leader of the Whole Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, Gudrat Hasanguliyev, said Iranian Ambassador Nasser Hamidi Zare should be summoned to the Foreign Ministry and that Tehran formally apologize.
On December 10, an Azerbaijani court convicted a group of 15 persons on charges of spying for the Iranian secret service, attempt to stage a coup and establish Islamic law, and other grave crimes. Sayid Dadashbayli who headed the ring known as "Sayid’s gang" was sentenced to 14 years in jail, while the other defendants were handed down sentences between two and 14 years. The National Security Ministry said the criminal group had passed to Iranian agents information on Western embassies, companies, pipeline operations and employees operating in Azerbaijan from 2005 to 2006. Iran reacted angrily, labeling the statement as actions "by elements in the lower echelons of power" and citing complicity of US and Israeli intelligence.
Hasanguliyev expressed concern over the fact that the Azerbaijani ambassador to Tehran Abbasali Hasanov was summoned by the Iranian Foreign Ministry and demanded to provide a formal apology for the alleged anti-Iran statements.
"Instead of apologizing to us, they summoned our ambassador and expressed protest," the party leader said.
Hasanguliyev said Azerbaijani government agencies should appeal to the UN Security Council over the ascertained facts.
The MP accused Iran of persistently taking an improper position when it comes to issues concerning Azerbaijan. He reminded that the recent publication of the "History of Azerbaijan" atlas by two prominent Azerbaijani academicians was unfairly met with hostility in neighboring Iran.
"This caused outrage in the Iranian parliament and media. They are telling us not to write history or teach it to our youths," Hasanguliyev added.
In October, Iran came out strongly against the maps published in Azerbaijan, with a senior lawmaker describing this as an indication of the hostile policy pursued in the region by the United States and Zionists.
The atlas published by the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences indicated the territories of Iran and some neighboring countries in the original version – as Azerbaijani land.*
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