VILLAGE HIGHLIGHTS TROUBLED LINKS BETWEEN NEIGHBOURS

(25 May 2012) The small, religiously conservative village of Nardaran is a potential point of tension for Azerbaijan's secular government in its strained relations with neighbouring Iran. But local people insist they are just devout Muslims, like many Iranians.
Nardaran, a village of several thousands, 25 kilometres from Baku, is known for its devout Shia population in the mostly secular Azerbaijan.
Oil-rich Azerbaijan has nurtured close relations with the US and played an active role in western-led activities.
That foreign policy has put it at odds with Iran, which hosts a sizable ethnic Azeri community.
In recent months, Iran expressed concern over alleged Israeli intelligence activity in the Caucasian state.
In return, Azerbaijan said it has arrested dozens - including several in the village of Nadaran - it said were hired by Iran to carry out terrorist attacks against the US and Israeli embassies as well as other groups and companies with links to the west.
"The fact is that we in Azerbaijan are the same faith as Iran but that we have terrorists? That just isn't true," said Abdul Talibov, 57, a Nardaran resident.
Israeli Ambassador Michael Lotem said there has recently been a "dramatic eruption of Iranian verbal condemnations and rhetoric against Azerbaijan." He added Azerbaijan has strong bilateral relations with Baku and cooperation in the area of security and energy.
Rasim Musabayov, a member of the Azerbaijani parliament and security analyst believed Tehran was pushing Azerbaijan to "totally disrupt relations with Israel."
Over the past weeks, Iranian clerics have denounced Azerbaijan for hosting the upcoming Eurovision song festival and for allegedly permitting gay rallies, which are banned in Iran.
Iran summoned the Azeri envoy after Israel signed a 1.6 (b) billion US dollar (1.3 (b) billion euros) deal to sell drones, anti-aircraft and missile defence systems to Azerbaijan in February. The deal would bring Israeli technology to Iranian borders.
Israel has hinted at an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, alleging Iran is trying to make nuclear weapons.
Iran denies this and says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.


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