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Avigdor Lieberman: I hope transportation of Azerbaijani oil to Israel will be agreed

14 August 2007 09:44 (UTC +04:00)

-What is the aim of your upcoming visit to Azerbaijan?

-I have twice visited Baku. I visited Baku as the chief of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuâ€™s office in 1997. I met with the then Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev at his residence near the Caspian Sea at that time. We had a long talk with him and his accurate and profound approach towards the ongoing processes in the world amazed me. I felt his hot attitude to Israeli nation. Success of Azerbaijani-Israel relations is the result of it. We are interested in the development and continuation of Israeli-Azerbaijani relations. Economic relations between the two countries are developing continuously at present, trade turnover is rising. Big organization of the migrants from Azerbaijan has been established in Israel, parliamentary group regarding Azerbaijan is operating in Israeli Knesset, and the number of high-level official visits between the two countries has increased. My visit to Azerbaijan will serve further development of these relations. Meeting with Jewish community in Baku, opening of Jewish Center is expected in the framework of the visit.

-What issues will be discussed during your visit?

- Joint fight against terrorism, cooperation in energy, simplification of visa regime between the two countries will be focused on. I hope an agreement will be reached on the transportation of Azerbaijani oil to Israel, I will have several meetings regarding it. I will meet Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, speaker of Azerbaijani Parliament Ogtay Asadov, and also have meeting with several ministers regarding intercommunity relations during my visit.

-Are you going to discuss Iranâ€™s nuclear program with Azeri
officials?
-Our position on Iranâ€™s nuclear program is the same as that of world community. For the time being, Iranâ€™s nuclear program is discussed at the UN Security Council. It is not only Israelâ€™s problem. It has to be solved within the framework of dialogue held by the UN Security Council, International Atomic Energy Agency, and European Union with Iran.

-What do you think of Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict?
-Our position on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict remains the same. The conflict should be solved within the framework of Azerbaijanâ€™s territorial integrity and sovereignty. The conflict is to be solved by means of negotiations mediated by the UN and other international associations.

-Will you debate on opening Azerbaijanâ€™s embassy in Israel?
-We understand all geopolitical hurdles on the way of opening Azerbaijanâ€™s embassy in Israel. I hope for establishing Azerbaijan-Israel Chamber of Commerce at least. I highly appreciate our cooperation in humanitarian and cultural spheres./APA/