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WE SHOULD DEVELOP RELATIONS BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN, TURKEY AND ISRAEL: TURKISH DIPLOMAT
Trend News Agency
Oct 6 2007
Azerbaijan
Israel, Jerusalem / corr Trend R.Mammadov / Trend's interview with
Namik Tana, the Turkish Ambassador to Israel
Question: You were one of those who supported the establishment of
Diaspora organizations like the Congress of Azerbaijanis in Near
East. What are your views on prospects of this idea?
Answer: Relations with Azerbaijan are of strategic importance for
us like the relations with Israel. We should develop and encourage
relations and cooperation on trilateral basis. Azerbaijanis are our
brothers worldwide, including in Israel. Though several years ago we
did know each other, now we speak and understand each other in the
same language. It indicates to historical heritage of our nations
and we are proud of that. I see real and loyal representatives of the
Turkish lobby in the Congress, who are prepared to protect interests
of Azerbaijan and Turkey in the region. As an ambassador of Turkey to
Israel I am prepared to render all assistance to support prospective
projects of the organization which will promote trilateral cooperation
and partnership between Turkey, Israel and Azerbaijan.
Question: What are your views on the prospects of entrance of
Azerbaijan energy resources to the world markets via Turkey and Israel?
Answer: Currently, Turkey is an important transit place in the world.
Many energy pipelines, running to the West, are passing via Turkey.
The strategic pipeline Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan also runs through my
country's territory. From this aspect, I want to say that there
is a strategy of multiprofile pipelines with respect to Israel. On
this strategy, the energy resources running from the Black Sea are
delivered to Ashkelon, south Israel, and from Ashkelon to Eylat,
where the pipeline has existed for many years. There is a real and
perspective opportunity in Eylat to supply Azerbaijani energy resources
to the market of Middle East, China and India. Along with this pipeline
strategy, we will witness connection of the Black and Red Sea. This
a huge project, but very relevant, profitable and global. In this
respect, Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, the Israeli Infrastructure Minister,
is expected to visit Turkey at the invitation of the Turkish Energy
Minister. Indeed, the above described ambitious project will be one
of the top issues during the future talks.
Question: How did the decision by several Jewish lobby organizations
based in the United States on recognition of the so-called 'Armenian
genocide' affect the strategic partnership between Israel and Turkey?
Answer: To tell the truth, the decision of Anti-defamation League,
known as pro-Israeli lobby group, shocked and distressed us. For many
years we have had very kind and trustful relations with large Jewish
lobby organizations. I think the decision was taken under pressures
of the Armenian lobby in the United States. Obviously, we could
not accept that decision. Every time when we met with our Israeli
friends we stressed that they should influence pro-Israeli lobby
organizations in the United States. From this aspect, the position
of the Israeli political establishment satisfied us adequately. Thus,
Israeli President Shimon Peres commenting on the so called 'Armenian
genocide' said that the matter should be researched by historians
and the politicians are to define the horizons of future. Proceeding
from Israel's such clear position, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan
offered Armenian authorities to establish a joint commission on
historical researchers to study the issue. From this standpoint,
we appreciate Israeli authorities' clear and rational approach to
the problem. We merely ask our Israeli friends to make it clear for
their American compatriots that history must not be written on the
basis of momentary political bias. Besides, we also try to inform our
friends in pro-Israeli lobby organizations about our position. We
do that both through our diplomatic representations and efforts of
the Turkish Diaspora in the United States. In this respect we want
Israel to help and support us.
Question: How do You assess the current level of the strategic
co-operation between Turkey and Israel?
Answer: Currently it is fact that serious and comprehensive
strategic co-operation is in existence between Turkey and Israel. This
partnership covers all spheres of our co-operation. The two countries
politically co-operate at a very high capacity and carry out permanent
political-military co-operation. In addition, there are deep human
relations. It is testified by the fact that each year Turkey receives
500.000 Israeli tourists. We are very glad for this fact. There are
good cultural relations between Israel and Turkey.
Presently we are establishing a Turkish Culture Center in the building
which formerly belonged to Ottoman Imperia. The Mayor of Tel-Aviv and
Foreign Ministry of Israel make a significant contribution to us in
this issue. There are high level economic relations between Turkey and
Israel, but I think that the potential between the two countries have
not been fully used. Currently the trade turnover between Turkey and
Israel amounts to $2.5bln and I believe that this figure will increase
up to $5bln over the next five years. Turkey's Trade Minister visited
Israel at the beginning of 2007, with accompany of more than hundred
Turkish business people.
This visit further assisted in strengthening the business and economic
relations between the two countries and it its turn, it help enhance
and expand strategic partnership.
Question: In connection with the Turkish foreign Minister's visit
to Near East countries, some media reports wrote about 'Turkey's new
Near East peace initiative'...
Answer: Turkey has an only objective to achieve peace, stability and
security in the Near East. We support any peace initiatives. Turkey
regards the resolution of the conflict between Israel and Palestine as
key in the resolution of many near east problems. From this aspect,
we support any diplomatic efforts directed at the resolution of
the problem.Thus, at the end of October it is planned to hold a
peace conference in Anapolis, the US, under the chairmanship of the
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. However, the issues to be
discussed and a list of countries to be invited to the meeting are yet
to be defined. We are prepared to participate and make an important
diplomatic contribution in this meeting. At the same time we are for
the peaceable resolution of many issues which Near East faces. It
is also a problem of North Iraq, where the Kurdish terrorists reign,
problem of Iran and Syria, resolution in Afghanistan.
From: Baghdasarian
Trend News Agency
Oct 6 2007
Azerbaijan
Israel, Jerusalem / corr Trend R.Mammadov / Trend's interview with
Namik Tana, the Turkish Ambassador to Israel
Question: You were one of those who supported the establishment of
Diaspora organizations like the Congress of Azerbaijanis in Near
East. What are your views on prospects of this idea?
Answer: Relations with Azerbaijan are of strategic importance for
us like the relations with Israel. We should develop and encourage
relations and cooperation on trilateral basis. Azerbaijanis are our
brothers worldwide, including in Israel. Though several years ago we
did know each other, now we speak and understand each other in the
same language. It indicates to historical heritage of our nations
and we are proud of that. I see real and loyal representatives of the
Turkish lobby in the Congress, who are prepared to protect interests
of Azerbaijan and Turkey in the region. As an ambassador of Turkey to
Israel I am prepared to render all assistance to support prospective
projects of the organization which will promote trilateral cooperation
and partnership between Turkey, Israel and Azerbaijan.
Question: What are your views on the prospects of entrance of
Azerbaijan energy resources to the world markets via Turkey and Israel?
Answer: Currently, Turkey is an important transit place in the world.
Many energy pipelines, running to the West, are passing via Turkey.
The strategic pipeline Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan also runs through my
country's territory. From this aspect, I want to say that there
is a strategy of multiprofile pipelines with respect to Israel. On
this strategy, the energy resources running from the Black Sea are
delivered to Ashkelon, south Israel, and from Ashkelon to Eylat,
where the pipeline has existed for many years. There is a real and
perspective opportunity in Eylat to supply Azerbaijani energy resources
to the market of Middle East, China and India. Along with this pipeline
strategy, we will witness connection of the Black and Red Sea. This
a huge project, but very relevant, profitable and global. In this
respect, Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, the Israeli Infrastructure Minister,
is expected to visit Turkey at the invitation of the Turkish Energy
Minister. Indeed, the above described ambitious project will be one
of the top issues during the future talks.
Question: How did the decision by several Jewish lobby organizations
based in the United States on recognition of the so-called 'Armenian
genocide' affect the strategic partnership between Israel and Turkey?
Answer: To tell the truth, the decision of Anti-defamation League,
known as pro-Israeli lobby group, shocked and distressed us. For many
years we have had very kind and trustful relations with large Jewish
lobby organizations. I think the decision was taken under pressures
of the Armenian lobby in the United States. Obviously, we could
not accept that decision. Every time when we met with our Israeli
friends we stressed that they should influence pro-Israeli lobby
organizations in the United States. From this aspect, the position
of the Israeli political establishment satisfied us adequately. Thus,
Israeli President Shimon Peres commenting on the so called 'Armenian
genocide' said that the matter should be researched by historians
and the politicians are to define the horizons of future. Proceeding
from Israel's such clear position, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan
offered Armenian authorities to establish a joint commission on
historical researchers to study the issue. From this standpoint,
we appreciate Israeli authorities' clear and rational approach to
the problem. We merely ask our Israeli friends to make it clear for
their American compatriots that history must not be written on the
basis of momentary political bias. Besides, we also try to inform our
friends in pro-Israeli lobby organizations about our position. We
do that both through our diplomatic representations and efforts of
the Turkish Diaspora in the United States. In this respect we want
Israel to help and support us.
Question: How do You assess the current level of the strategic
co-operation between Turkey and Israel?
Answer: Currently it is fact that serious and comprehensive
strategic co-operation is in existence between Turkey and Israel. This
partnership covers all spheres of our co-operation. The two countries
politically co-operate at a very high capacity and carry out permanent
political-military co-operation. In addition, there are deep human
relations. It is testified by the fact that each year Turkey receives
500.000 Israeli tourists. We are very glad for this fact. There are
good cultural relations between Israel and Turkey.
Presently we are establishing a Turkish Culture Center in the building
which formerly belonged to Ottoman Imperia. The Mayor of Tel-Aviv and
Foreign Ministry of Israel make a significant contribution to us in
this issue. There are high level economic relations between Turkey and
Israel, but I think that the potential between the two countries have
not been fully used. Currently the trade turnover between Turkey and
Israel amounts to $2.5bln and I believe that this figure will increase
up to $5bln over the next five years. Turkey's Trade Minister visited
Israel at the beginning of 2007, with accompany of more than hundred
Turkish business people.
This visit further assisted in strengthening the business and economic
relations between the two countries and it its turn, it help enhance
and expand strategic partnership.
Question: In connection with the Turkish foreign Minister's visit
to Near East countries, some media reports wrote about 'Turkey's new
Near East peace initiative'...
Answer: Turkey has an only objective to achieve peace, stability and
security in the Near East. We support any peace initiatives. Turkey
regards the resolution of the conflict between Israel and Palestine as
key in the resolution of many near east problems. From this aspect,
we support any diplomatic efforts directed at the resolution of
the problem.Thus, at the end of October it is planned to hold a
peace conference in Anapolis, the US, under the chairmanship of the
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. However, the issues to be
discussed and a list of countries to be invited to the meeting are yet
to be defined. We are prepared to participate and make an important
diplomatic contribution in this meeting. At the same time we are for
the peaceable resolution of many issues which Near East faces. It
is also a problem of North Iraq, where the Kurdish terrorists reign,
problem of Iran and Syria, resolution in Afghanistan.
From: Baghdasarian