Israeli minister offers security cooperation to Azerbaijan
ITV, Baku
8 Jun 06
[Presenter] Mutual interests of Azerbaijan and Israel involve
cooperation not only in energy and other economic spheres, but also in
security, the minister of national infrastructure of Israel, Binyamin
Ben-Eliezer, has said at a news conference he held on the outcomes of
his visit to Azerbaijan. The minister also said that the gas exported
to Europe via a gas pipeline under the Caspian Sea is of great
importance for Israel.
[Correspondent] Along with cooperation in energy and other economic
spheres, Israel and Azerbaijan share common strategic interests.
Therefore, Israel is interested in cooperating with Azerbaijan in all
areas, the minister of national infrastructure of Israel, Binyamin
Ben-Eliezer, said.
Israel is a potential buyer of the high-quality Caspian oil
transported to the Turkish port of Ceyhan, he said. In addition, like
many other countries, Israel wants to base its energy consumption on
gas.
[Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, captioned, speaking in English with Azeri
voice-over] We have researched the importance of Caspian gas which is
to be transported to Europe via the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline. Hence,
we came to Baku with leaders of the business community. I believe that
before I leave for Israel, my visit will achieve its task of taking
relations between Azerbaijan and Israel to a higher level. From now
on, Israeli businessmen are ready for broader cooperation with
Azerbaijan.
Since Azerbaijan is a strategically important country for us, we can
cooperate not only in energy and other economic spheres, but also in
security. [Correspondent] The minister also said that the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main [oil] export pipeline is crucial not only for
Azerbaijan and the region, but also for a number of leading Western
states and for Central Asia.
[Binyamin Ben-Eliezer] The pipeline is not important for one nation or
one country. Azerbaijan and Turkey, which currently ensure the
security of the pipeline, are independent states and are able to see
the difference between economy and security issues.
[Correspondent] The minister said he was satisfied with the rapid pace
of development in Azerbaijan over the recent years and with the
results of his visit.