AZERBAIJAN INVITED ISRAEL’S PERES FOR VISIT, IRAN INDIGNANT
AzerNews Weekly
May 27 2009
Azerbaijan
Israeli President Shimon Peres is due to pay an official visit to
Azerbaijan in late June or early July. Peres has received a formal
invitation from Baku, Israeli media quoted diplomatic sources as
saying.
An agreement for Peres` visit was reached at a meeting of Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev with Israel`s Foreign Minister, Avigdor
Lieberman, held in Prague on May 6. Lieberman said, during the talks,
that Tel-Aviv attaches strategic importance to the development of
its relations with the South Caucasus republics, and Azerbaijan in
particular. The minister added he hoped to pay another visit in the
near future to Baku, which he last visited in the capacity of Israel`s
minister of strategic affairs in August 2007.
The reports on the Israeli leader`s expected visit have drawn fire
from a number of Iranian officials. Tehran has warned the visit would
affect relations with Baku. Iran`s chief-of-staff of the armed forces,
Maj.-Gen. Hassan Firouzabadi, went as far as labeling the Israeli
leader`s invitation as "a provocation" against his country.
The Azerbaijani former state adviser, political analyst Vafa Guluzada,
regarded the statement as an attempt to put direct pressure on Baku.
"Azerbaijan is an independent state, and no one has the right to tell
us what is right and what is wrong in our policy. We never interfere
with others` affairs and will not tolerate this towards us either.
"In general, I am wondering: On what grounds is the Iranian
chief-of-staff dealing with affairs that are none of his concern and
comments on diplomatic issues related to foreign policy?" Guluzada
asked.
Although more than a month remains until the Israeli president`s visit,
some speculation is already being made about its agenda. Certainly,
an issue that has been awaiting its solution for many years – the
opening of the Azerbaijani embassy in Israel – is to be discussed.
Guluzada said Tel-Aviv has repeatedly raised the issue, going back to
when the late Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev was alive, however,
it was due to Tehran`s resentment that the matter was put off.
"Azerbaijan has never said "no". Simply, it had been waiting for
the appropriate time, according to officials. Iran wants neither
the Azerbaijani embassy to open in Israel nor Peres`s being invited
here. Iran might as well prompt all countries to accept this or else,
since Iran can`t cope with anyone else, it is flexing its power upon
us," Guluzada noted.
Asim Mollazada, a member of the Azerbaijan-Israel friendship group in
the Azerbaijani parliament, believes that, just like Baku does not
meddle in the rapprochement in relations between Iran and Armenia,
Azerbaijan`s long-time foe, Tehran, should not interfere. Mollazada
noted that he had repeatedly raised the embassy opening issue in the
legislature. Moreover, the MP is an advocate for boosting economic
cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel.
In fact, Israel has certain expectations from such collaboration. The
country is buying oil from the South Caucasus republic and is also
interested in importing Azerbaijani gas.
However, within Azerbaijan, there are some opponents to closer
cooperation with Israel.
Ilgar Ibrahimoglu, the Imam of the Juma mosque`s religious community,
is opposed to the Israeli president`s planned visit.
"Azerbaijan is a member of the Organization for Islamic Conference
(OIC). All of the Muslim nations represented in the OIC should approach
Armenia and Israel as invaders. I believe that all countries should
set an example in this respect."
But Mollazada opposed equating Israel with Armenia. He pointed out
that Israel has actually been instrumental in conveying to the entire
world the fact that Armenia is pursuing a policy of aggression against
its neighbor.
Armenia has been occupying over 20% of Azerbaijani territory since
the early 1990s in defiance of international law.
Azerbaijani lawmakers on Tuesday accused Iran of meddling in the
country`s internal affairs.
MP Fazayil Aghamali, the chairman of pro-government Ana Vatan party,
said Iran`s statements were inappropriate. "Why do they greet the
person who is responsible for the Khojaly massacre [Armenian President
Serzh Sarkisian] in Tehran? Azerbaijan`s relevant government agencies
– the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense – should object to
Firouzabadi`s views."
Aghamali said this is not the first time Iran is trying to interfere
with Azerbaijan`s sovereign rights. "Iran has made repeated attempts
to interfere with Azerbaijan`s internal affairs. This has to stop."
Some lawmakers suggested sending a note of protest to Tehran in the
wake of the latest developments. They also pointed out the need for
opening the Azerbaijani embassy in Israel.