ISRAELI DEPUTY, SUPPORTING PRO-AZERBAIJANI POSITION, DISTANCES FROM THE POLITICS
Today.Az
cs/49768.html
Dec 23 2008
Azerbaijan
Russian-speaking deputy of the Israeli Knesset (parliament) Josef
Shagal, chairman of the interparliamentary group Israel-Azerbaijan
intends to quit politics.
Long before the publication of the list of the Our home Israel party
Josef Shagal announced that he will not be included onto the list. "We
have spoken with Avigdor Liberman and this was our joint decision",
noted he.
"I knew long before that this term will be the last one for me. This
is not my sphere. I have gained experience in the politics, learned
many new things and managed to attain definite success, but it is
now time to move forth", noted the parliamentarian.
Shagal said he intends to return to the sphere of activity he worked
earlier – journalism. At the same time, he refused to comment on the
rumors that he will be appointed at a position, equally related to
diplomacy and mass media. "I have some definite plans", he said he.
Shagal, coming from Baku, was elected to parliament in April of 2006
and through the past two and a half years excelled in the development
of relations between Israel and Azerbaijan. In April of 2007 he led
the International Association Azerbaijan-Israel, aimed to strengthen
political and economic ties, friendship and partnership between the
two countries.
He paid a special attention to the opening of the diplomatic or at
least trade representation of Aezrbaijan in Israel, but the powers
of this country are still undetermined about it due to the concerns
to spoil relations with the Muslim world. Moreover, the Russian
parliamentarian was actively involved into the interstate contacts,
aimed at conclusion of a contract about payment of pensions to the
former citizens of Azerbaijan, residing in Israel.
Shagal had a direct relationship to development of several state visits
of Azerbaijani officials to Israel and vise versa. In particular, this
related to the visits of vice premier Avigdor Liberman and minister
of national infrastructures Binyamin Ben-Eliezer in 2007 to Baku.
It was not without Shagal’s participation that in 2006-2008 Azerbaijan
took the first place among the Muslim states by the effectiveness of
interstate and economic contacts with Israel.
In spring of 2008 this parliamentarian condemned the discussion of
the problem of the so-called "Armenian genocide" in the Knesset. At
the same time, he stressed possible deterioration of relations with
Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Shagal has repeatedly stated importance of strengthening the strategic
alliance Ankara-Jerusalem-Baku.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
