AZERBAIJAN AND ISRAEL: NOT A TYPICAL RELATIONSHIP
Huffington Post
baijan-and-israel-not_b_509229.html
March 23 2010
Relationships of convenience in the world of international politics
are ubiquitous. It is virtually impossible to scan this world and
not find an immediate example. Indeed, many of the United States’
"closest" international relationships are those of convenience. Are
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States really allies and/or
close friends? More likely, it is in the U.S.’s and Saudi Arabia’s
best interests to support the Saudi royal family, shall we say,
over less friendly options. Again, the world scene is replete with
these examples.
It is interesting and ultimately important and instructive to
delve into and take a closer look at alliances and state to state
relationships. Are these relationships pragmatic and based simply on
common interest? Are they "shot gun weddings," based on tactical and
short term needs? Or are some of these relationships based on the above
scenarios while also possessing deeper considerations? The answer is
not always evident. These cases take more study, as in the relationship
between the State of Israel and the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The close relationship between the Israel and Azerbaijan would seem,
at first glance, to be one of simple convenience. Why would the Jewish
state, portrayed by radicals to be the enemy of all Muslims, and a
majority-Muslim nation decide to work with one another and to embark
upon the establishment of such a close bilateral relationship? One
may conclude that Azerbaijan was willing to sell much needed oil
to Israel, so Israel took the initiative. One may also argue that
Azerbaijan, when these contracts originated, was a newly independent
former Soviet Republic who needed a market for its oil exports and the
revenue they afforded and Israel was simply a buyer. It is interesting
to note that Azerbaijan, via its strategic Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC)
Pipeline, supplies roughly a quarter of Israel’s oil.
Further investigation, though, bears out facts that shed a brighter
light on a more substantive and expansive relationship. Azerbaijan,
a secular, majority-Muslim nation, is well known for its pragmatic
and balanced foreign policy. Azerbaijan is also a nation that,
while considering its best interests, can be relied upon to do the
"right thing." In the politics of oil, and make no mistake, there is
a politics of oil, Azerbaijan chose to sell its oil to Israel. It is
a definite considered decision.
A large contributing factor and, some would argue, the genesis of
this close bilateral relationship between the State of Israel and the
Republic of Azerbaijan is the ancient Jewish community that resides
(indeed, thrives) in Azerbaijan to this day. This community, 35,000
strong, has resided there for 2,500 years without, by their own
admission, any persecution. The Jews of Azerbaijan fought alongside
their Muslim countrymen both against the Soviets as the collapse of
the Soviet Union was imminent and in Armenia’s war to conquer parts
of Azerbaijan. Muslims and Jews have harmoniously lived and worked
side by side in Azerbaijan for centuries as equals.
When the Soviet Union collapsed, many Azerbaijani Jews seized upon
the opportunity to leave and emigrated to Israel. As Azerbaijan
became independent and stable, these Jews began to travel back to
Azerbaijan and develop business and cultural relationships. Many Jews
from Azerbaijan now live in both nations.
In terms of sheer economics, the value of trade between the two
nations has risen to a whopping $3.6 billion USD per annum. The trade
turnover between Azerbaijan and Israel totaled $400 million in 2007,
and Israel’s exports to Azerbaijan in 2008 broke records for the third
consecutive year. According to figures released by Israel’s Central
Bureau of Statistics, Israel exported a total of $128,896,130 in 2008,
a 56.4 percent increase over the previous year’s figure. Azerbaijan
was Israel’s 41st largest market in 2008, ahead of more established
partners like Portugal, Ireland, Serbia, Bulgaria and Norway.
In the other direction, Israel is Azerbaijan’s third largest trading
partner, accounting for 6.4 percent of Azerbaijan’s total trade.
According to figures announced by Azerbaijan’s Statistical Committee,
Israel imported approximately $3.5 billion of goods, including oil
from Azerbaijan in 2008.
Investment by Israeli companies and partnerships with Azerbaijani
companies is also most notable. Investment by the Israeli-owned
Bakcell, a cell phone operator is the second largest in the Azerbaijani
market. In 2008, Israel and Azerbaijan closed a weapons deal worth
hundreds of millions of dollars. Most notable is the recent agreement
to jointly develop and build advanced unmanned aerial vehicles.
Many Israeli companies also operate in the expansive energy sector
of Azerbaijan. For instance, an Israeli-based supplier of high
technology to the energy industry, Modcom System Ltd., opened an
office in Azerbaijan in 2000 and has operated there since.
Trade in human capital is also significant between the two nations.
Regular governmental, business and cultural delegations are
exchanged between the two states. One of the first was the 1997
visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet with the
revered late President of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev. Most recently,
the President of Israel, Shimon Peres, and Israeli Foreign Minister
Avigdor Lieberman were welcomed to Azerbaijan by Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev with full state honors. It is interesting to note that
Iranian leaders objected strenuously to Peres’s visit and was basically
told by President Ilham Aliyev to mind their own business and that
he would host whomever he wishes in his nation. Ministerial-level
delegations to Azerbaijan include Israel’s Minister of Agriculture and
Rural Development, who traveled to Azerbaijan to discuss partnerships
in Azerbaijan’s burgeoning agricultural industry. Israel’s Minister
of National Infrastructure visited Baku to participate at the annual
Caspian Oil & Gas Exhibition. The list goes on.
Exchanges, delegations and visits from Azerbaijan to Israel are
equally plentiful. The Azerbaijani Minister of Economic Development
visited Israel to negotiate and sign an agreement for the reciprocal
promotion and protection of investments. Ministerial-level exchanges
in the realms of technology, emergency preparedness, security and
anti-terrorism, transportation and agriculture transpire on a regular
basis. The Azerbaijan-Israel International Association (AzIz) was
even established to increase and enhance these high-level contacts.
Critics argue that cracks exist in the bilateral relationship between
Azerbaijan and Israel. Perhaps. Surely, no relationship is perfect.
Azerbaijan necessarily often abstains from votes that would benefit
Israel in the United Nations and other world bodies. No, Azerbaijan
does not have an embassy in Israel. Should Azerbaijan? Perhaps. Would
the establishment of an embassy in Israel be a nice reciprocation of
the opening of an Israeli embassy in Baku, the capitol of Azerbaijan?
Yes. Would this limit Azerbaijan’s ability to work and deal with other
Muslim and majority-Muslim nations? Absolutely. Would it make a good
friend and ally pay for, in this specific case, somewhat of symbolic
gesture, given the depth of the existing relationship? Yes.
There exists a pragmatic aspect to the relationship between Israel
and Azerbaijan, certainly. Pragmatism is healthy. The relationship,
however, is much more than just pragmatism or shared interests. The
relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Israel are also
based on history, shared citizens and a devotion to freedom, rule of
law and building a prosperous and normal society. Relations between
the State of Israel and the Republic of Azerbaijan are truly, suffice
it to say, a prime example of a multifaceted, multilateral, positive
and healthy relationship.
Jason Katz is the principal of the Tool Shed Group, a consultancy
that advises foreign governments, including the government of the
Republic of Azerbaijan. He is also the former head of Public Affairs
for the American Jewish Committee in Los Angeles.