ISRAEL WANTS STRONGER ECONOMIC TIES WITH AZERBAIJAN – PERES
Day.Az
June 25 2009
Azerbaijan
Day.az presents an exclusive interview with President of Israel Shimon
Peres held by the European bureau of Trend news agency ahead of his
visit to Azerbaijan on 28-29 June.
[Correspondent] You are scheduled to visit Azerbaijan next week. What
documents will be signed during the visit? How do you assess the
present and the future of bilateral relations between Israel and
Azerbaijan?
[Peres] We have many things in common. Azerbaijan does not only have
large gas resources but it’s also a country with rich culture. People
are unaware that Azerbaijan granted women the right to vote earlier
than Switzerland and the USA.
Azerbaijan has demonstrated tolerance and respect to the place
where Jews, Muslims and Christians could live without hatred and
fanaticism. Therefore, it’s a special country for me which I am sure
I can trust. It has its own cultural roots. Oil can be purchased,
but culture has to be created. Azerbaijan has created its own culture.
Azerbaijan is a small nation. Both Azerbaijan and Israel face the same
problems. How can a small nation become great despite its size? You
can become great regardless of [the size] of your territory if you
embrace all the richness of modern science and technology.
President of Azerbaijan Mr Aliyev commands the deepest respect. I
find him extraordinarily humane, quiet modest, educated, subtle. It’s
nice to communicate with him. He had shown interest in fields such
as agriculture, water reserves, health care, high technologies. We
discussed these topics.
Israel almost has neither territory, nor water, nor gas, nor
petrol. Therefore, we should concentrate on our intellect, our science
and we should share everything that Azerbaijan is interested in.
It’s also important that Israel is not dangerous. We are too small to
frighten somebody. But on the other hand, we have worked out and are
ready to share with our friends with what we can offer in science
promotion and other similar fields. These are the fields where we
can cooperate in full.
We have culture, will and readiness. I also knew the father of the
incumbent president [of Azerbaijan] and was impressed by him. I met
him twice. He was a highly-educated man respecting traditions.
I am aware that Azerbaijan has a serious problem. This problem mainly
comes from your neighbours. It’s impossible to choose a neighbour in
politics, just like a family where you cannot choose a parent. Such is
life. Israel fully supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. We
believe that no country has the right to seize another country’s
territory.
So, before my visit to the country (Azerbaijan), (I was there
once) I cherish kind feelings towards it. In addition, the fact of
Azerbaijan’s consistent good attitude towards Jewish people has a
historical significance. Most of them have emigrated to Israel but
have preserved the warmest feelings towards Azerbaijan. Therefore,
I think there are a number of reasons which cause special interest
in the expected visit to your homeland.
[Correspondent] Do you expect the expansion of diplomatic relations
between our countries?
[Peres] I hope that a full-scale embassy of Azerbaijan would be opened
in Israel. I think the more cooperation develops, the more necessary
this step will become. This will definitely happen, because I hope
that we will enrich our relations during the visit.
A large delegation from Israel will accompany me in Baku. We want to
establish stronger relations in the economic and science sectors. After
the visit, the opening of an embassy will become a necessity.
[Correspondent] You mentioned that Israel supports Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity. Israel has a constructive position on the
settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagornyy
Karabakh. Is Israel ready for a more active involvement in the
resolution process?
[Peres] We are a small country, we have no great power. We can express
our view, but we have no power when we talk about our views, relations
and positions. I think Azerbaijan would want to come closer not
only with Israel, but with the whole European community, including
the USA. All we can do is just support the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan.
[Correspondent] Israel has lately talked about its intention
to purchase Azerbaijani gas which comes from Azerbaijan through
Georgia and Turkey. A gas pipeline is needed for this purpose which
would go through the seabed of the Mediterranean Sea from Turkey
to Israel. In what quantities do you think the gas purchase will be
possible? And what party will take the responsibility for expenses
on the construction of the pipeline?
[Peres] The minister of infrastructure who is in charge with this
will accompany me in Baku. I would prefer him to answer this question,
because he knows all the details. But the purpose of his visit to Baku
is to estimate the real possibilities of shipment of Azerbaijani gas
to Israel.