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Natan Sharansky: Reliable strategic relations with Azerbaijan are very important for us

15 August 2007 10:15 (UTC +04:00)

I know that most Jews living in Azerbaijan feel very good. The fact that Azerbaijan is a Muslim country is the most significant part for us. Reliable strategic relations with Azerbaijan are very important for us,â€ Chairman of the Institute for Strategic Studies at the Shalem Center Natan Sharansky told the APAâ€™s Israeli bureau.
â€œWe understand Azerbaijanâ€™s geopolitical position. The position makes Azerbaijan carry out maneuver. Despite its goodwill, Azerbaijan does not strive to make wide diplomatic relations with Israel. But I assume Azerbaijan will overcome all these difficulties and establish diplomatic representative in Israelâ€ added Mr.Sharansky.
Mr. Sharansky stressed that there are lots of prospects between the two countries. He underline that Israel is a super force in technologies in spite of being small country. Israel is a leader of the world due to the scientific inventions per capita: â€œThe people leaving Azerbaijan for Israel and regarding Azerbaijan as their motherland are natural bridge between the two countries. Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export pipeline is a good example for our good relations. Ceyhan port is at 600 km of Israel and we are interested in importing oil from Azerbaijan,â€ added Mr.Sharansky.
The expert underlined that the two factors will influence on the further development of bilateral relations. The first factor is how tension between Israel and Iran will influence on the regional situation while the second one is about Azerbaijan, if it is ready to develop as a democratic and independent country.
Mr. Sharansky emphasized that Iranâ€™s nuclear program is not only Israelâ€™s problem. It is a world wide problem. He denounced Iranâ€™s current regime: â€œThis regime does not hide its target to wipe Israel out. And if Iran gets nuclear weapon it would obviously be impossible to deter it. Thatâ€™s why the entire world is in dangerâ€ said ex-minister.
He said that he met with all representatives of Russian political elite and warned them against sending technologies to Iran as it can lead to dangerous results according to the task of Israeli government since 1997.
â€œWhat I said did not satisfy them. But I would like to mention words of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He stated once it will be revealed that the role of European technologies in Iranâ€™s producing nuclear weapons was no less than Russiaâ€™s role. Therefore, all states should participate in sanctions against Iran,â€ he said. /APA/
Natan Sharanski stressing possibility of solving the problem regarding Iran politically, diplomatically and militarily stated that all steps should be taken to prevent Tehran regime to possess nuclear weapon.
Sharansky was born in 1948 in Donetsk, Ukraine. He was detained for anti-soviet activity in 1977. He was accused of spying for the U.S. in 1978 and sentenced to 13 years in jail. As a result of the U.S. and Europeâ€™s long-term serious protests and interference, Sharansky was exchanged for one of the Soviet intelligence officer, who was detained in the border of Eastern and Western Berlin in 1986.
He set up Party â€œIsrael ba Aliyaâ€ which united Jews migrated from former USSR in 1995. He worked as Interior Minister in 1999-2003 and Construction Minister in 2001-2003. He was reelected member of Likud Party in 2006. He left politics in early 2007. /APA/