State committee 'not to interfere' with Iran's affairs

"We do not interfere with the affairs of ethnic Azeris living in Iran," the chairman of the State Committee on Work with Azerbaijanis Living Abroad, Nazim Ibrahimov, has told the press in reply to a question concerning the repressions and arrests of ethnic Azeris.

The statement comes amid tension in the neighboring country that escalated after state-owned newspaper Iran published a cartoon that insulted ethnic Azeri residents.

"The government's position on the issue is clear. We are interested in the developments surrounding Azeris living in all countries. But the state committee has repeatedly stated that it will not work with Azeris living in Iran. If we say otherwise, we will hurt their cause. Although we are concerned over these developments, we won't interfere. However, Azeris who leave South Azerbaijan and move to other countries are considered our Diaspora and we work with them," Ibrahimov said.

According to AssA-Irada, he noted that most of the Azeri community abroad is made up of people that come from northern Iran.

"They love the Azerbaijani state and have united around it. They are doing their best to convey the truth and problems about Azerbaijan to the rest of the world," the official said.

Iran is home to 30 million Azeris, or about 25% of the overall population, which is predominantly Persian.

/AzerNEWS/