A British MP delegation led by Vice-President of World Jewish Congress Lord Janner of Braunstone visited Martyrs’ Alley on September 2 to observe a minute of silence in memory of the heroes who died for freedom and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan Republic and lay a wreath on their graves.

Head of the Azerbaijan-Great Britain inter-parliamentary co-operation group Asaf Hajiyev and member Vagif Abdullayev updated the guests in detail on 20 January tragedy, massacre of Khojali people, and historical roots of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno Garabakh and its consequences.

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Then, the British MP delegation met with Chairman of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan Murtuz Alaskarov.

Welcoming the guests, Mr. Alaskarov noted the friendly ties between Azerbaijan and Great Britain have historical roots, and the new stage of these relations’ development had begun after the visit by Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev to Great Britain in 1993. “The inter-parliamentary links of our countries are also expanding,” he said.

The Azerbaijan Parliament speaker further dwelt on legal, political and economic reforms, as well as on the upcoming Presidential elections scheduled for October 15. The Chairman stated that the Government of Azerbaijan is striving to conduct democratic and transparent elections: “the Milli Majlis has invited representatives of Parliaments of many countries and international organizations to participate in the elections in observer capacity”, he stressed.

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Touching upon Armenia- Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh, the Chairman told of history of the problem, related activity of the OSCE Minsk group, and Azerbaijan Republic’ stance on the issue. He said: “As soon as the Presidential elections complete, the peace talks will be resumed between the heads of state. Azerbaijan will do release their lands from invaders and restore its territorial integrity.

Having thanked for the warm reception, Lord Janner expressed his satisfaction with opening of Jewish school in Azerbaijan. “This action will give a special impetus to the development of the relations between Azerbaijani and Jewish people, and also between the Milli Majlis and the British Parliament”, he said.

The parties have also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.

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On September 2, member of the House of Lords, Vice-President of the World Jewish Congress Lord Janner of Braunstone, Lord Mitchell, and member of the House of Commons Mrs. Linda Perham attended the ceremony took part in the opening ceremony of the Jewish educational complex Khabad ‘Or-Avner’ in Baku.

The complex built with the financial support of Jewish Communities Federation of CIS consists of kindergarten and school for 206 students, who along with Azerbaijani, Russian and English languages will study Hebrew and history of Israel.

Lord Greville Janner congratulated participants on the momentous event - the opening of Jewish educational complex “in such developed Moslem country as Azerbaijan”. Lord Mitchell, Mrs. Perham, Head of the religious community of Ashkenaz Jews of Azerbaijan, rabbi Meer Brook, Head of the inter-parliamentary Great Britain-Azerbaijan friendship group Asaf Hajiyev, the Milli Majlis Deputy Vagif Abdullayev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Israel to Azerbaijan Eytan Naye unanimously emphasized that the social and political stability and tolerance of Azerbaijani people established in the country as a result of the successful domestic and foreign policy carried out by President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev serves strengthening of friendship between nations residing in Azerbaijan, preservation and flourishing of their national and cultural originality.