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BAKU: Azerbaijan Is Israel's Largest Partner In South Caucasus - Isr

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  • BAKU: Azerbaijan Is Israel's Largest Partner In South Caucasus - Isr

    AZERBAIJAN IS ISRAEL'S LARGEST PARTNER IN SOUTH CAUCASUS - ISRAELI EXPERT

    news.az
    June 1 2011
    Azerbaijan

    News.Az interviews Alexander Goldenstein, editor-in-chief of
    IzRus.co.il portal, expert on South Caucasus.

    Can you tell, please, what is happening around the upcoming debate
    on the so-called "genocide "of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in
    education and science commission of the Knesset?

    On 18 May, the parliamentarians submitted the question of recognition
    of the Armenian "genocide" of 1915 (in the Ottoman Empire) to the
    Knesset committee on education, culture and sport. As a result,
    there was a lot of noise in media, but little has changed in reality.

    According to the Knesset regulations, the committee should consider
    recognition of the "genocide" and submit a resolution for the
    parliament's approval. In the meantime, the chairman of the commission
    is not obliged to vote.

    Please note that the issue of recognition of "Armenian genocide"
    is raised in the Knesset almost every year. What's different this time?

    Until now, discussions over this issue were held at the foreign
    affairs and defense commission, whose meetings are closed to public.

    This time the discussions will be held in an "open" commission. I dare
    say the result will be the same - at some point the question will be
    "buried" and forgotten until the next spring.

    So, MPs are less likely to adopt a resolution recognizing "genocide"
    after it is raised in the parliament itself?

    Our national football team would rather reach the World Cup. I am
    quoting Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon: "There is no chance that
    the Knesset will recognize the "Armenian genocide." It is impossible.

    We can not spoil relations with Azerbaijan, our major strategic
    partners in the Muslim world, because of controversial historical
    issues relating to the events that took place a century ago. Danny
    Ayalon is member of the party "Israel Our Home" headed by Foreign
    Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

    Head of the Knesset committee on education, culture and sport Alex
    Miller is also a member of this party. Over recent years, MPs and
    ministers from "Israel Our Home" have traditionally been the staunchest
    supporters of partnership with Azerbaijan. They consistently oppose
    the recognition of Armenian "genocide". Since 2008, when the Knesset
    commission voted for consideration of the "Armenian question" for the
    first time, "Israel Our Home" annually torpedoed further decisions
    on this issue.

    Can the recently strained relations between Israel and Turkey play
    a part in this case?

    This is highly unlikely. Erdogan acted against Israel and turned two
    old friends - the people of Israel and Turkey - almost into enemies
    for slightly over two years. He has his reasons to do this. But it is
    no time to discuss them. The main thing is that countries continue
    to cooperate, just not as close as before. We still have a lot of
    common interests. Except for some noisy MPs, no one in Knesset, and
    even in the government, intends to act in opposition to Turkey and
    openly provoke it.

    Recently, experts from different countries have once again talked about
    a possible war of the United States and Israel against Iran. Has this
    become real and if so, what is the reason?

    I do not know who these experts are. Unfortunately, in recent years
    there have been too many "experts" in the press. I see "experts"
    seriously discussing the geopolitical processes and who hardly
    distinguish an aircraft carrier from a destroyer and Iran from Iraq.

    Incidentally, this is a message to many media outlets which publish
    everything not even bothering to check whether this "expert"
    understands this or that subject.

    Returning to the question, I do not believe in this scenario, at least,
    in the coming years. The war is fraught for both sides. Key danger of
    attack on Iran is that the people will unite around the Ayatollahs
    regime, as it was during the Iran-Iraq war. I am sure that Israel
    and the U.S. understand this. The main thing for us is to destroy
    Iran from the inside and tear away Kurds, Arabs, Baluchis and other
    nationalities from Tehran. Iran begins quietly seethe, and I do not
    believe that the "Arab spring" can become "a Persian summer", but the
    process has begun, so it would be silly to attack the Islamic republic.

    How would you assess Azerbaijan-Israeli ties in military sphere
    (defense industry, arms purchase) and economy? Can you, please,
    compare them with Armenia-Israel ties?

    The relationships are excellent. Cooperation continues and it covers
    new industries. I note that a delegation of representatives of large IT
    companies headed by Director General of the Ministry of Communications
    visited Azerbaijan this month. Our countries maintain very successful
    cooperation in the field of agriculture. Israel's ambassador to Baku
    Michael Lavon Lotem places much emphasis on economic side of the
    Israeli-Azerbaijani relations. So, one can say unequivocally that
    today Azerbaijan is Israel's largest partner in the South Caucasus.

    As for Israeli-Armenian economic relations, of course, they are far
    away from Israeli-Azerbaijani ties. Israel and Armenia are quite
    friendly countries. We simply have nothing to trade with each other
    (to put it the simplest language).

    Is the Karabakh conflict likely to resume? What position will Israel
    take in case hostilities resume?

    I would better not to discuss Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. There are
    experts who are good at it. I can just say that Israel does not want
    a new war to erupt. As I said, we enjoy good relations with Baku and
    normal relations with Yerevan.

    In case of conflict, Israel will not interfere, but try to contribute
    to its termination and will offer its mediation services.

    On the other hand, having lived in the Middle East for over 20 years,
    I understand that the more middlemen are involved, the less chance will
    be for conflict resolution. If the whole world had not interfered with
    their disservice, we would have had long lived in peace with the Arabs.

    In your opinion, how soon Baku will open its diplomatic mission in
    Israel? What grounds are needed for this?

    Not any time soon. I do not believe that this will happen in the
    coming years. Azerbaijan neighbors with the biggest and worst enemy
    of the Jewish state, which would react very negatively to opening of
    embassy in Israel. I can talk nonsense saying that Baku should pursue
    an independent policy and not pay attention to Iran, but, fortunately,
    I have not gone mad yet. Baku has not gone mad, too. Israel understands
    it very well that why there is no Azerbaijani embassy in Tel Aviv
    and is well aware that Baku does not want Iran's inadequate reaction
    directed in particular against the Iranian Azerbaijanis. I hope
    Azerbaijan diplomatic mission will open in Tel Aviv once Ayatollahs'
    regime collapses.

    Hamid Hamidov (Moscow, Russia) News.Az



    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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