Azerbaijan, Baku, May 18 / Trend, E.Tariverdiyeva /
Relations between Baku and Cairo have been established since the first years of independence, since the recognition of Azerbaijan's independence by Egypt, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev said in an interview with Egyptian NileInternational TV channel.
"We have strong cultural and historical ties and we have a lot in common that unites our nations," Abdullayev said.
He said there is huge potential for the development of relations between Egypt and Azerbaijan not only in official political relations, but in the humanitarian sphere.
"We have to do much in terms of bilateral relations, but it is important that there is common understanding how our relations develop, and political will of both sides to develop them. We can also use public diplomacy in order to bring our relations to higher level," Abdullayev said.
He said Egypt supported Azerbaijan when Baku was elected as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
"We see Egypt as a gateway of Afghan contingent and Middle East. Egypt is really important country for Azerbaijan," Abdullayev said.
He said today Azerbaijan pursues very successful regional policy in the South Caucasus.
"Azerbaijan is driving force of the South Cauacasus region, and is considered as a gateway of the region," Abdullayev said.
When answering correspondent's question on Palestine, Abdullayev said that this question is one of the main problems of the Muslim world.
"Azerbaijan intends to hold an international donor conference on Palestine in June. The conference aims at attracting funds from the Muslim countries, from around the world to help the Palestinians," Abdullayev said.
Azerbaijan has always supported the Palestinians and does everything possible to support the Palestinian people, he said.
"We believe that the Palestinians have all the rights to be full members of the international community and to be represented in international organizations. This conference is very important in terms of the Palestinians' fate. Egypt as one of the important members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, will make great contribution to this project," Abdullayev said.