ISRAELI LEADER’S VISIT TO AZERBAIJAN TO "HARM" BAKU’S IMAGE

Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran Sahar TV, Tehran
May 14 2009

The possible visit of the Israeli president to Azerbaijan will put Baku
under pressure and harm its image, state-run Iranian international
service Sahar TV has said. Israeli President Shimon Peres is
reportedly to visit Azerbaijan at the end of June – early July, several
Azerbaijani papers and news agencies have reported. The reports alleged
that such an agreement was received in Prague at a meeting between the
president and an Israeli minister. Protest voices are already heard
in Azerbaijan among which the Centre for the Protection of Freedom
of Conscience and Religion was the first. The statement from this
group described the possible visit as "disgrace". Iran’s Sahar TV,
which broadcasts in several foreign languages for foreign countries
as well as Azerbaijan and active in anti-government campaign, has
been active to this end. The following is an excerpt from report by
state-run Iranian international service Sahar TV on 14 May:

[Presenter] Realist analysts have assessed a possible visit of
Israeli President Shimon Peres to Baku as a threat to the Azerbaijani
Republic whereas some pro-Israeli and pro-Western [Azerbaijani] media
and political analysts launch a campaigns [to promote] the possible
visit of the criminal Zionist regime leader to Baku.

[Correspondent] A number of political experts say that Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev has taken a dangerous and illogical step by
inviting the leader of the criminal Zionist regime, who is the enemy
of all Islamic world, to pay a visit to the Azerbaijani Republic while
Aliyev himself has recently urged Turkey to avoid normalizing ties with
Armenia which is in enmity with Azerbaijan. In this regard, policy of
double standards pursued by Azerbaijan will harm Ilham Aliyev’s image.

Experts note that the possible visit by Shimon Peres to Baku
will cause serious economic, political and security problems for
Azerbaijan. However, from the security standpoint, the Zionist regime
will not suffice itself to the realization of the visit by the head
of this regime. Following this visit, Baku will face big demands as
Baku would put itself in an isolated political situation by making
wrong decisions. If the visit of Shimon Peres to Baku is realized,
unfortunately, it will put Baku in isolation and damage it image. As a
result of which an expansionist Zionist regime will issue a challenge
to the Azerbaijani Republic and compel Baku to more concessions.