Azerbaijan, Baku, February 11 / Trend , U.Sadikhova/
Full text of interview is provided
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman spoke to the several Azerbaijani media outlets on results of his first official visit to Baku.
Q: How do you assess the results of your Azerbaijan visit?
A: Israel and Azerbaijan that are developing very dynamically have good relations. This positive trend in the right pace, of course, is a milestone in our bilateral relations - this is President Shimon Peres's visit and meting with President Ilham Aliyev.
Our relations are very well developed in all three dimensions - from political, economic and cultural point of view. Meeting at the highest political level, the economy, the overall turnover and the volume of trade of two states - all developed in parallel and more than successful.
Maybe there are two specific factors: Israel has a large diaspora of the Azerbaijani immigrants which successfully entered into our society - Yosef Shagal, Alex Veksler, Roma Peres - they are all included in my delegation. Presence of such a diaspora helps convergence, and the human diplomacy also makes a very positive momentum in our bilateral relations. We also appreciate Azerbaijan's very tolerant and traditionally good position towards the Jewish minority. All the leaders of the Jewish community emphasized that they feel confident, comfortable and are in complete safety. The combination of tradition, tolerance and open approach to modern values - it is a very interesting model, which exists in Azerbaijan. I think there is a unique model that can serve as an example in many parts of the world.
I look forward to return visits. A large business delegation from Azerbaijan will visit Israel in March.
Q: How real is abolition of the visa regime between Azerbaijan and Israel?
A: Everything should be done naturally and in the right pace. One should not slow down it and should not artificially speed up anything. Presently, we are discussing the abolition of visa requirements for owners of diplomatic and official passports. Time will show.
Q: Israel and Azerbaijan agreed on cooperation in the use of alternative energy sources. What projects are planned in this area, in what terms and where they will be implemented?
A: We discussed several projects. Israel is probably one of the most advanced counties in all related solar energy, management of water resources, waste water purification and desalination plants.
Fundamental approval at the highest level has already been obtained. During the Azerbaijani delegation's visit these will be negotiated with their Israeli counterparts. I think we will determine the time frame, the objects and scope of this cooperation within three or four months.
Q: In his interview to the Israeli edition, Head of the Jewish community of Armenia Rimma Varzhapetyan said about the infringement of the rights of Jews in Azerbaijan. Have you faced with such facts?
A: I can speak on behalf of the Jews of Israel or the community of Moldova, with which I maintain very close relations. Regarding Azerbaijan, I can speak on behalf of the heads of the Jewish community in Azerbaijan, and it is difficult to imagine the warmer relations and more warm words. Therefore, since I'm not here for the first time and I have many friends here, my impression is that it is difficult to imagine more optimal conditions for the observance of religious and Jewish education, schools and traditions. So I think one should not confuse the interrelations of the Jewish community with interstate. We have not heard or seen nothing but good and warm relations of Azerbaijan with the Jews.
The vast majority of nations throughout the world recognized the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and our position is this: we respect the territorial integrity and believe that all disputes should be resolved within the framework of the agreements of the OSCE Minsk Group, and we hope that a breakthrough will be achieved soon.
Q: What is the level of energy cooperation between the countries? What are the volumes of oil imported from Azerbaijan to Israel?
A: Azerbaijan is one of the main suppliers of oil to Israel. With regards to gas, as we have not gas pipeline and the liquefied gas is not produced in sufficient volume, unfortunately still it is too early to talk about gas supplies. Either a pipeline will be built or a special plant on liquefied gas will be constructed, it needs to talk about special terminals. So I think it's a more complicated question.
With regards to oil, the cooperation is quite successful, and we believe that Azerbaijan is very good and serious partner.
Q: How can cooling in relations between Israel and Turkey affect the relations between Azerbaijan and Israel?
A: I do not see any contradictions with regards to the relations of Turkey with Azerbaijan and Turkey with Israel. Our relations with Turkey should be considered within the "worldwide cooling". We hope that our relations with Turkey will return to their circle. We were not the initiators of the recent crises, and hope that they will be overcome.
Q: Did you discuss the situation in Iran during your meetings in Azerbaijan?
A: Iran is no longer a regional problem, it is impossible to solve it in a regional scale. Protests against European embassies, the statements by Ahmadinejad contradict statements of Russia's Foreign Ministry, the U.S. President.
The day before yesterday very clear statements were made by President Obama. It seems that this problem is on another level and it can not be described as regional.
Q: What other bilateral visits are expected in the future?
A: A number of ministers and parliamentary delegations should come to Israel. I think that this year there will be a lot of visits by ministers, business delegations, cultural exchanges, parliamentary meetings. Minister of Education [Misir Mardanov] should visit Israel. Therefore, there will not be lack of mutual visits in 2010.
Q: There is an opinion that Azerbaijan can become a mediator in Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Is there such a question on the agenda?
A: First, Azerbaijan has very good relations with all countries in our region, including the Palestinian Authority, Jordan. However, we have a great experience, and all the peace agreements were reached through direct negotiations, not through mediation, in particular a peace agreement with Egypt and with Jordan.
I hope that by the end of this month, indirect talks with the Palestinians will start through mediation of Senator Mitchell, and within a month after thins, direct negotiations will begin. Alternatives to direct negotiations between the two parties do not exist, and we believe that it needs to start indirect talks as soon as possible.