Israeli Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Azerbaijan Ronen Krausz visited the Ganja Memorial Complex as part of his visit to Ganja. In an interview with APA at the complex, the ambassador spoke about his impressions of the visit, the prospects for Azerbaijan–Israel relations, the importance of preserving historical memory, and future directions of cooperation between the two countries.
– Mr. Ambassador, what impressions did your trip to Ganja and your visit to the Ganja Memorial Complex leave on you?
– First of all, I am very pleased to be in Ganja again. This is my third visit to Ganja. My previous visits took place about 12–13 years ago, and being here again is a great joy for me. Visiting this memorial complex was a very touching and emotional moment for me. Because this site is of utmost importance in terms of preserving the memory of the people who lost their lives and were injured during the attacks on Ganja. Coming from Israel, as everyone knows, unfortunately, we also suffer from such terrible events. This emotional connection that exists between the pain experienced by Azerbaijan and the pain experienced by Israel is a feeling deeply understood and highly valued by both countries. We will always honor the memory of those who lost their lives with respect.
It was a great honor for me to visit this memorial complex. I believe it is extremely important for Azerbaijan to invest in keeping alive the memory of those who lost their lives and passing their story on to new generations who have not lived through the period of war and conflict. Great value should be placed on preserving historical memory in people’s minds and lives. I consider myself very fortunate and feel deep respect for having the opportunity to visit this site and see firsthand Azerbaijan’s efforts to keep this history alive and convey it to the international community.
– What was the moment at the Ganja Memorial Complex that touched you the most?
– I think seeing the remains of destroyed buildings, the teddy bears placed on them, and knowing that children were injured here, including that six children lost their lives during the attacks, as a father, was one of the moments that affected me the most. We all look to the future with the hope of building a better future for our children and families. Unfortunately, seeing these sights left a very deep and personal emotional impact on me.
– How do you assess the current cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel and the future of relations between the two countries?
– As noted, relations between our countries are extremely friendly. Both countries understand each other very well and share a common vision regarding realizing the potential of these relations at the highest level. Cooperation between our countries ranges from energy and defense sectors to cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, tourism, agriculture, water resource management, and many other fields. I believe that in the coming period, we will continue to further develop these relations. One of the key points that should be particularly highlighted is the Jewish community living in Azerbaijan. Living here for centuries in peace and mutual respect, this community has contributed to the development of relations between our countries. At the same time, the Azerbaijani diaspora living in Israel plays an important role in strengthening these ties. These two factors create a strong bridge between our countries and bring Azerbaijan and Israel even closer together.
– In what areas do you see new opportunities for the development of cooperation within the framework of your visit to Ganja?
– First of all, considering that Ganja is the second largest city in Azerbaijan, visiting this city and getting acquainted with its history and rich cultural heritage, especially the heritage of the great Nizami Ganjavi, as well as the heritage of other prominent figures, is of great importance. At the same time, exploring new opportunities for the development of business and economic cooperation between Israel and Azerbaijan is also extremely important. I hope that as a result of this visit, our cooperation in the academic field will also expand further. In particular, I believe that the existing cooperation between the Azerbaijan State Agricultural University operating in Ganja and various institutions of Israel will further develop. I also hope that this visit will give impetus to the implementation of new initiatives and make an important contribution to the further strengthening and enrichment of relations between our countries.