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Israeli National Infrastructure Minister: I am ready to sign agreement on gas import with Azerbaijan any time

12 July 2007 11:40 (UTC +04:00)

Dossier. Benjamin Ben-Eliezer was born in 1936 in Iraq. He was repatriated to Israel in 1950 and graduated from Israeli National Security Academy. Benjamin Ben-Eliezer was promoted from officer to brigade general of Israeli army. He left the army in 1984 and started active political activity. He had been Construction Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Communication and Telecommunication Minister and Defense Minister. He speaks fluent English and Arabian. Benjamin Ben-Eliezer is National Infrastructure Minister of Israel.

-What are your impressions of Azerbaijan, as one of the few number of government officials who visited the country?
-I first visited Baku to attend traditional international oil & gas exhibition. We had splendid contact with the Azerbaijani government. I met with the majority of government officials and felt myself among my friends who I talked the same language and shared my problems. Meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev made a great impression on me. I have several met with Azerbaijani President recently. You can see my photo with Ilham Aliyev in my office. We had an open talk with President Aliyev in the inauguration of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export pipeline. I consider Ilham Aliyev as an energetic, hard-working and talented president. He is able to rightly assess Azerbaijanâ€™s geopolitical situation. I think that Azerbaijan will become a strong economic state of the region in the nearest future. Israeli businessmen have great prospects for investing funds in Azerbaijan. I intend to visit Azerbaijan soon and sign long-term contract on export of Azerbaijani gas to Israel.
-What is your assessment of the current state of Azerbaijan-Israel relations? Do you agree that â€œOil interests define the relations between the two countries?â€
-I think that Azerbaijan-Israel relations are on highest level. The then president Heydar Aliyev contributed to the development of these relations. He was always respected in Israel. Israeli president Shimon Perez is of high opinion of Heydar Aliyev. Israeli government respects Azerbaijani people and government. I can say that Azerbaijani people are very hospitable, modern. They could preserve their customs, culture and folklore and respect them. They always respect the representatives of other nations living in the country. Azerbaijan is of great strategic importance for Israel. I told Azerbaijani president that Israel was accustomed to mutual relations with Europe and the US, but I think that Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, India and China will be the main economic figures and we have to change our habits. I consider that these countries should be the main economic partners of Israel. I can name Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. Ceyhan port is situated in 600km from Israel and we are interested in buying both gas and oil from Azerbaijan.
-You stated during your visit to Georgia that Israel can be the main importer of Shah Deniz gasâ€¦
-Azerbaijani gas is transported to Arzurum today, we are also interested in the delivery of this gas to Israel. I hope that I can convince my Azerbaijani friends in the necessity of extension of the Baku-Tbilisi-Arzurum gas pipeline till Ceyhan port during my visit to Baku. We consider Azerbaijan one of the main strategic players in gas market. Israel is ready to import gas from Azerbaijan in any quantity. I am ready to leave for Baku at present and conclude an agreement on gas import from Azerbaijan for 20-30-year term. There is no problem in this issue, Azerbaijan is our friend and strategic partner, I do not see any problem in concluding this agreement.
-You are one of the few Israeli politicians having special weight in Arabic world. What is your assessment on the existing situation in the region?

-Abnormal situation is in Palestine today. Palestinians are in civil war. HAMAS and Fath groups are struggling. We have already left Gaza Strip, there is no Israeli soldier, no migrant from Israel there. We thought that a normal state would be established in Palestine after we leave there, and the two nations would co-exist. We are ready to negotiate with Palestinians today to achieve peace. We do not want terrors, armed confrontation. But if Palestinian is executing his compatriot, what can we do in this case? Palestinians are killing women, children, elders, and damage houses. Palestinian autonomy has been divided into two parts, Abu Mazen is the President of one part, Khaled Mashal, leader of HAMAS government-the second part. We are ready to negotiate with the President of Syria, HAMAS, Sheikh Nasrullah, Lebanese for peace. Israel should protect its citizens, children, grandchildren as a Jewish state. We do not differentiate grief of Jewish and Palestinian mother. We are ready to release thousands of prisoners for saving life of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
-What is your approach towards Iranâ€™s nuclear program?
-Today Iranâ€™s nuclear program worries not only Israel, but the tire world. Iran realizes that this program is directed against the Persian Gulf states, Saudi Arabia which are competing with it and those Arabian States which have entered alliance with the US. Iran is not able to â€œwipe outâ€ Israel and can not do it. There is also one factor against Iran. One detail should be taken into consideration: the country coming to know international relations should possess a nuclear weapon. Not a country, the authorities of which threat another country with wiping out. So, it cannot be let possess such a dangerous weapon. /APA/