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Today's Zaman, Turkey
May 11 2012
Hundreds of Azeris protest Iran's close ties with Armenia
11 May 2012 / TODAYSZAMAN.COM,
Hundreds of Azerbaijanis staged a demonstration near the Iran Embassy
in Baku to protest what they said `unacceptable support' by Iran to
its archfoe Armenia, calling on Tehran to immediately halt its
threatening statements against Azerbaijan.
Several civil society organizations and youth movements participated
in the rally, who described Azerbaijan's southern neighbor as being a
threat.
Relations between Azerbaijan and Iran, its much larger southern
neighbor, have been tense in recent months after Tehran has accused
Azerbaijan of assisting Israeli intelligence in killings of Iranian
nuclear scientists.
Baku traditionally has had cordial ties with Tehran, but has grown
increasingly wary of the increasing influence of Iran's influence in
the secular, but predominantly Muslim, former Soviet state.
The protest in Baku comes after dozens of Iranians staged a
demonstration in front of Azerbaijan's Consulate in Tabriz, denouncing
Azerbaijan's hosting of this year's Eurovision song contest and an
accompanying gay parade. The protest in Tabriz also coincides with the
anniversary of the fall of Shusha to Armenians, largest city in
Nagorno-Karabakh predominantly populated by ethnic Azeris.
Protest in Baku condemned Iran for criticizing Azerbaijan's host of
the song contest.
Caucasian Muslims Administration (QMİ) official Hacı Tahir called on
Iranian government to stop issuing threatening statements against
Azerbaijan and accused Tehran of backing Armenia, which he said had
barbaric treatment of Azerbaijanis in early 1990s, Azerbaijan's news
portal gun.az reported on Friday.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a full-fledged war in early 1990s that
resulted in the occupation of some 20 percent of Western Azerbaijani
territories. Both sides lost at least 30,000 in the devastating war.
Subsequent peace efforts have yielded no results and Azerbaijan
frequently vows to take back its lost territories by force if
necessary and says its patience is rapidly wearing thin.
Last month, security forces arrested several Azeris and Iranians on
suspicion of spying for Iran, plotting to attack Western targets and
smuggling arms from Iran into Azerbaijan.
On February 29, Israel signed a $1.6 billion deal to sell drones,
anti-aircraft and missile defense systems to Azerbaijan, bringing
Israeli technology to the border of archenemy Iran. In reaction, Iran
summoned Azeri envoy, seeking clarifications about the sale. The
crisis between Baku and Tehran further deepened after war of words
between the two countries.
From: A. Papazian
May 11 2012
Hundreds of Azeris protest Iran's close ties with Armenia
11 May 2012 / TODAYSZAMAN.COM,
Hundreds of Azerbaijanis staged a demonstration near the Iran Embassy
in Baku to protest what they said `unacceptable support' by Iran to
its archfoe Armenia, calling on Tehran to immediately halt its
threatening statements against Azerbaijan.
Several civil society organizations and youth movements participated
in the rally, who described Azerbaijan's southern neighbor as being a
threat.
Relations between Azerbaijan and Iran, its much larger southern
neighbor, have been tense in recent months after Tehran has accused
Azerbaijan of assisting Israeli intelligence in killings of Iranian
nuclear scientists.
Baku traditionally has had cordial ties with Tehran, but has grown
increasingly wary of the increasing influence of Iran's influence in
the secular, but predominantly Muslim, former Soviet state.
The protest in Baku comes after dozens of Iranians staged a
demonstration in front of Azerbaijan's Consulate in Tabriz, denouncing
Azerbaijan's hosting of this year's Eurovision song contest and an
accompanying gay parade. The protest in Tabriz also coincides with the
anniversary of the fall of Shusha to Armenians, largest city in
Nagorno-Karabakh predominantly populated by ethnic Azeris.
Protest in Baku condemned Iran for criticizing Azerbaijan's host of
the song contest.
Caucasian Muslims Administration (QMİ) official Hacı Tahir called on
Iranian government to stop issuing threatening statements against
Azerbaijan and accused Tehran of backing Armenia, which he said had
barbaric treatment of Azerbaijanis in early 1990s, Azerbaijan's news
portal gun.az reported on Friday.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a full-fledged war in early 1990s that
resulted in the occupation of some 20 percent of Western Azerbaijani
territories. Both sides lost at least 30,000 in the devastating war.
Subsequent peace efforts have yielded no results and Azerbaijan
frequently vows to take back its lost territories by force if
necessary and says its patience is rapidly wearing thin.
Last month, security forces arrested several Azeris and Iranians on
suspicion of spying for Iran, plotting to attack Western targets and
smuggling arms from Iran into Azerbaijan.
On February 29, Israel signed a $1.6 billion deal to sell drones,
anti-aircraft and missile defense systems to Azerbaijan, bringing
Israeli technology to the border of archenemy Iran. In reaction, Iran
summoned Azeri envoy, seeking clarifications about the sale. The
crisis between Baku and Tehran further deepened after war of words
between the two countries.
From: A. Papazian