Israeli Politicsupdated 42m ago2 min read
Iran, Turkey, and 12 Delegations Walk Out as Israeli President Isaac Herzog Speaks at CICA in Baku
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Iran and 12 delegations walked out of CICA hall as Herzog began speaking in Baku. Turkey was among the walkouts alongside Kuwait, Pakistan, and Palestine.
Walkout as Herzog spoke
Representatives from more than 10 countries, including Turkey, left the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) hall in Baku as Israeli President Isaac Herzog began delivering his speech on Thursday. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his accompanying delegation rose from their seats and left the hall in the synchronized moment Herzog started his address.
The walkout unfolded at the seventh CICA summit in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, where the conference includes 28 member states and aims to provide a common framework for dialogue and cooperation on security and confidence-building in Asia. The Al-Manar TV Lebanon account said the Islamic Republic of Iran and delegations from 12 other countries out of a total of 28 walked out as Herzog began his address, and it listed delegations that included Iran, Palestine, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iraq, Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Bangladesh.
Who stayed, who left
Qatar’s emir remained in the hall and listened to Herzog’s remarks while five delegations left during President Isaac Herzog’s address. Herzog urged that cooperation “cannot thrive with boycotts,” and he called for broader regional partnerships as he addressed the plenary session of the seventh CICA summit.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Iranian media claimed the Qatari delegation also exited the hall, while eyewitnesses at the conference said the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, remained in his seat and listened to Herzog's remarks. The Jerusalem Post also said Turkey was represented by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the Palestinian Authority by its foreign minister, Kuwait by its deputy foreign minister, Iran by its deputy minister for legal and International affairs, and Pakistan by its ambassador to Azerbaijan, while Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates remained in the hall.
Herzog’s message and CICA
Herzog used his address to argue that practical cooperation could help overcome political divisions, and i24NEWS said he pointed to Israel’s relations with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates under the Abraham Accords as both countries were represented at the summit. Herzog said, “I say to all neighboring countries, to all nations in this region and in Asia, that Israel desires and strives to enhance collaboration and to broaden the circle of peace,” as he framed the speech around partnership.
PressTV said Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi urged member states to expel the regime from CICA, and it described Gharibabadi calling Israel “the main source of insecurity and instability in Asia.” WANA News Agency said the walkout involved 13 delegations out of the 28 attending the meeting, and it identified Kazem Gharibabadi as the head of the Iranian delegation that joined 12 other delegations in walking out during Herzog’s speech.