In general, the mankind has been existing and developing by creating and building.
Heydar Aliyev
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits “Khabad-Or-Avner” Education Centre
On December 13, Prime Minister of the Israeli State Benjamin Netanyahu, within his business trip to the Republic of Azerbaijan, visited “Khabad-Or-Avner” Education Centre in Baku.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu familiarized himself with the conditions created at the Centre.
The Centre has been constructed by “Or-Avner” International Foundation within the framework of the project “Address of Tolerance - Azerbaijan” of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for Jewish children living in Baku. On May 31, 2007, the Centre’s foundation was laid, with participation of Azerbaijan’s First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva. On October 4, 2010, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, President of CIS Jewish Communities Federation and “Or-Avner” International Foundation Lev Levayev attended the inauguration of the Education Centre.
Built to meet modern standards, designed for 450 people, the Centre features 30 classrooms, and a 700-square metre open-air stadium, with artificial cover. The distinguished feature of this centre, with ethno-cultural component, as compared with other education institutions, is that basics of the Jewish culture are taught here.
Then a meeting took place at the Centre with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel’s ambassador to Azerbaijan Dan Stave, speaking at the event, said the meeting between national leader Heydar Aliyev and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 1997 has made significant contribution to strengthening of the bilateral relations. The ambassador expressed his confidence that this visit by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will play an essential role in extending the cooperation between our countries further. The diplomat emphasized that Azerbaijan has been an important partner for Israel. These relations of friendship and partnership rely on deep roots. There has never been observed anti-Semitism in Azerbaijan. Jews have always lived in Azerbaijan in an environment of friendship and brotherhood.
Minister Mikail Jabbarov mentioned the significance of teaching Hebrew at higher schools of Azerbaijan. Underscoring the great role that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation played in the construction of this education institution and other schools, M.Jabbarov said “Khabad-Or-Avner” Centre has been a good example in terms of instilling tolerance and respect for other religions and peoples at an education establishment. It was emphasized that, as in other spheres, cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel in the sphere of education too is developing.
Talking about Azerbaijan’s multiculturalism values, the minister said President Ilham Aliyev’s declaring the year 2016 “The Year of Multiculturalism” in our country is an obvious example of attention paid to this area.
Chairperson of the Baku Mountain Jews Religious Community Milikh Yevdayev called Israeli Prime Minister’s visit to Azerbaijan a historic event. He emphasized that friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Israel are developing.
M. Yevdayev talked about the multicultural and tolerant environment dominating in Azerbaijan and noted that the fact that Jews have been living in Azerbaijan in an environment of peace is an obvious example of this.
Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at the event, said he was pleased to have undertaken this trip to Azerbaijan. Underscoring the great love for the Jewish people in Azerbaijan, the Prime Minister recalled the great contribution made by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation to the development of education of the Jewish people in Azerbaijan. Development of the relations between Azerbaijan and Israel in the sphere of education was talked about, and it was noted that cooperation in this direction would develop further. The conditions created at the Centre were given high appreciation.
