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  • ANKARA: Why Azerbaijan Has No Full Diplomatic Relations With Israel

    WHY AZERBAIJAN HAS NO FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL

    Journal of Turkish Weekly
    http://www.turkishweekly.net/op-ed/2437/why -azerbaijan-has-no-full-diplomatic-relations-with- israel.html
    Dec 25 2008
    Turkey

    Azerbaijan and Israel has a developed relationship on the economical
    and political spheres and Israel consider Azerbaijan as its important
    strategic partner in the region. But despite of the developed
    relationship between these states Azerbaijan has no full diplomatic
    relation with Israel. This factor has a great impact on the relations
    between two states. During her interview with the Azerbaijani news
    agency Today.Az, Israeli Foreign Minister Tsipi Livni also addressed a
    statement to the Azerbaijani government that why Azerbaijani embassy
    has not been opened in Israel. For answering this question we have
    to look at the historical development of the relations between these
    two countries and analyze the reason why Azerbaijan has not opened
    its embassy in Israel.

    Azerbaijan is the third Muslim country after Turkey and Egypt to
    develop bilateral strategic and economic relations with Israel. It
    established relations with Israel after gaining its independence in
    1991. Azerbaijan is a secular state with eight million predominantly
    Shiite and ethnically Turkic population. But despite it is religious
    view, Azerbaijan has no anti-Semitic tradition in its history. Even
    from the late 19th century, Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan,
    became one of the centres of the Zionist movement in the Russian empire
    and the first Havevei Zion (Lovers of Zion) was created here in 1891,
    followed by the first Zionist organization in 1899.

    The movement remained strong in the short-lived Democratic Republic
    of Azerbaijan (1918-1920) marked with the establishment of the Jewish
    Popular University in 1919, and a number of schools, social clubs,
    benevolent societies and cultural organizations. Even the Minister of
    Health, Dr. Yevsei Gindes, of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan
    was an Ashkenazi Jew.

    Following history we know that, Russia was one of the birth places
    of the anti-Semitism in Europe. Because of that reason, with the
    occupation of Azerbaijan by the Soviet Union in 1920, all Jews
    organizations in Azerbaijan were closed. Beginning in the 1960s,
    Azerbaijani Jewish community has experienced cultural revival. Jewish
    samizdat (Samostoyatelnoe Izdatelstvo-independent publication,
    during the Soviet Union there was such a publication, which had no
    connection to the state) publication began. Many cultural and Zionist
    organizations were re-established in Baku and Sumgait since 1987,
    and the first legal Hebrew courses and the first Jews Sochnut School
    in the Soviet Union was opened in Baku, in 1982.

    Today the country has prided itself on its good relations with
    Israel and Jewish minority in the country. Azerbaijan is a home to
    some 11,000 Mountain Jews, residing primarily in Baku and Krasnaya
    Sloboda settlement in the Quba district of Azerbaijan. There are also
    nearly 5000 Ashkenazi Jews living mostly in Baku.

    While looking at the relations of Israel with the Azerbaijan Republic,
    since its independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has a good relation on
    the field of strategic matters, security, and trade, cultural and
    educational exchange with Israel. After independence of Azerbaijan,
    there were diplomatic negotiations over the exchange ambassadors
    between the two states. Eliezer Yotvat appointed as a first ambassador
    of Israel to Azerbaijan. But the embassy of Azerbaijan has not been
    open in Israel.

    In October 2001, President of Azerbaijan, Haydar Aliyev pledged
    to open an embassy in Israel and sent his Foreign Minister to
    visit Israeli government. But until today Azerbaijan has not
    fulfilled its responsibility to open an embassy in Israel, because
    of some political events. Azerbaijan has said that, its complicated
    geopolitical situation, particularly its proximity to Iran, as well
    as its membership in international Islamic organizations, prevented
    it from opening a mission in Israel.

    But despite all these, Azerbaijan-Israel strategic cooperation
    grows step by step; even Azerbaijani government has an unofficial
    representative, AZAL (Azerbaijan National Airline), in Israel.

    Iran Islamic Republic was worry about the development of the relation
    between Azerbaijan and Israel. For that reason after Ilham Aliyev
    became the president of Azerbaijan in October 2003, Iran, the biggest
    threat for Israel in the Middle East, tried to improve the diplomatic
    relations with Azerbaijan in favour of cutting relations with
    Israel. Even several high-level Iranian military officers visited Baku
    in August 2004, intended Azerbaijan to cease security cooperation with
    Israel and stop receiving Israeli military and intelligence officers.

    But for Azerbaijan to have relationship with Israel is much more
    important than Iran, because Israel was one of the strategic partners
    and supporters of Azerbaijan in Karabakh War with Armenia. As a
    result of Nagorno-Karabakh War, nearly 20% of Azerbaijan territory
    was occupied by Armenian troops and till today it has been under
    the control of Armenia. The war caused almost one million Azeris to
    flee from Armenia and the occupied territories. In this war Iran and
    Russia traditionally supported Armenia. When war broke out, Iran just
    remained largely neutral despite the fact that a large Shiite majority
    inhabited Azerbaijan. Iran, a country ruled by Muslim Shiites, has an
    Azeri ethnic minority population living in the northwest corner of the
    country, known as "southern Azerbaijan", totaling more than 25 million
    people, compared with a population in Azerbaijan of 8 million. During
    the Nagorno-Garabagh conflict, Iran was suspicious that, support for
    Azerbaijan against Armenia would encourage for unification between
    the two "divided" Azerbaijan that had been separated by the Persian
    and Russian Empires since the 19th century. Because of these Iran
    supported Armenia against Azerbaijan. Even in April 1992, for example,
    Iran supplied natural gas and fuel to Armenia, which helped sustain
    Armenian action. Iranian-Armenian cooperation seems to be developed in
    future, and currently there are negotiations over the construction of
    Armenia-Iran railway and building a new gas pipeline. Iran is using
    Armenia as a potential buffer to insulate against the future rise of
    power of Azerbaijan.

    But looking at the other side of the coin, in April 1993, in
    response to the Armenian occupation of Azeri lands, Turkey closed its
    border with Armenia. Throughout the conflict Israel also supported
    the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. According to London based
    Arabic language weekly al-Wassat, during Nagorno-Karabakh War Israel
    and Turkey have provided Stinger missiles to Azerbaijan. Even many
    Azerbaijanis expressed the hope that friendship with Israel may
    help resolve the continued Nagorno-Karabakh dispute and expatiate
    Azerbaijan's integration with the West.

    Israel also provides training for Azerbaijani security and intelligence
    services, as well as security for the Azerbaijani president during his
    foreign visits. Israel might have also set up electronic listening
    stations along the Caspian Sea and Iranian border. In sum, Iran and
    Armenia see that, cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel is a big
    threat for Iranian-Armenian relations, and also see Azerbaijan as
    a part of a geostrategic axis that also includes Turkey, historical
    "enemy" of Armenia, Israel, and Georgia. For that reason they want
    to disrupt that axis.

    Another aspect of warm relations between Israel and Azerbaijan is
    currently evolving strategic partnership of both countries with Turkey
    and United States. By this cooperation, Azerbaijan and Turkey try to
    ensure the support of the Israel-American lobby for preventing the
    attempt of a small but powerful Armenian-American lobby to influence
    over the US foreign policy toward these countries.

    During the visit of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in
    1997 to Baku, the relations entered a new phase. Since that time
    Israel has been developing closer relations with Azerbaijan for
    modernizing the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan. Israeli military have
    been a major provider of battlefield aviation, artillery, antitank,
    and anti-infantry weapon to Azerbaijan.

    After 9/11 terror attacks Azerbaijan took side with America as an ally
    against world terrorism. Since that event a new sphere of cooperation
    has emerged in security with the US. Azerbaijan has provided an air
    corridor for American military efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq and
    has joined the US led coalition in Iraq. These events also improved
    the Azerbaijan-Israel relations strategically, because Israel is one
    of the major partners of the US in the Middle East.

    The Azerbaijan-Israel Friendship Society facilitates and promotes
    bilateral diplomatic and business links. After the creation of the
    relations, economic cooperation between Israel and Azerbaijan has
    been growing significantly. Attempting to deregulate industry and to
    create free market and liberal economy, attracted Israeli companies
    to Azerbaijani markets. Many companies have invested in the service
    sector. Bakcell, which was started as a joint venture between Ministry
    of Communication of Azerbaijan and GTIB (Israel) in early 1994 as a
    first cellular telephone operator in the country, can be good example.

    According to the President of the Azerbaijan-Israel Business Forum,
    many Israeli companies also operate in energy sector of Azerbaijan. For
    instance, an Israeli based supplier of high technology to the energy
    industry, mainly oil and gas field, Modcom System Ltd. opened an
    office in Azerbaijan in 2000. According to UN statistical analyses,
    the exports of Azerbaijan have increased from US$2 million to $323
    million between 1997 and 2004. Israel was the largest importer
    of Azerbaijani oil after Italy in 2002. There is a growing covert
    collaboration in the energy sector between Azerbaijan and Israel.

    On June 5, 2005, the 14th Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition were opened
    in Baku. In his speech during the exhibition Arthur Lenk, Ambassador
    of Israel to Azerbaijan since April, 2005, talked about continuous
    trade between Azerbaijan and Israel in energy sector. "-Israel and
    Azerbaijan have close political and economical relations. The main
    thing is that Israel buys Azerbaijan's oil through Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
    pipeline. Interstate relations are also strengthening and the
    ministries of the two countries pay mutual visits. Azerbaijani Economic
    Development Minister Heydar Babayev visited Israel in February, chief
    of State Committee for Azerbaijanis Living Abroad Nazim Ibrahimov in
    April and Transport Minister Ziya Mammadov visited Israel two weeks
    ago. Israeli Foreign Ministry official Joseph Gal has also visited
    Azerbaijan recently. Deputies Prime Minister - Minister of Strategic
    Planning Avigdor Liberman and Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz will visit
    Azerbaijan in the second half of this year. Our positions coincide in
    most strategic issues. I think that the relations between Azerbaijan
    and Israel are of strategic character".

    The Ambassador also mentioned that, Israel could be strategic partner
    for selling Caspian oil to Asia through Ashkelon-Eilat pipeline. "-Over
    the past year, discussions have begun examining the feasibility of
    a pipeline corridor-with the possibility of carrying oil and natural
    gas from Turkey to Israel. Such a plan, if carried out, would extend
    the position of Azerbaijan crude oil to the edge of the Indian Ocean",
    he said.

    All these statement show that, Israel is seeking for possibilities of
    importing gas from the Caspian Sea region, because it is surrendered
    with oil reach countries, but has no chance to get it. Due to
    partnership with Azerbaijan is significant for Israel.

    Coming to the future of the relations between Azerbaijan and Israel,
    it is quite unclear. Because as I mentioned above Azerbaijan is
    a member of the OIC (Organization of the Islamic Conference),
    which created in 1969 in response to the defeat of Arab coalition
    in 1967 War (Six Day War) and one of main targetof the Organization
    was regaining of the holy lands, which was occupied by Israel after
    gaining its independence in 1947, with the UN Partition Plan (United
    Nation General Assembly Resolution 181).

    Today, Arab World demanded withdrawing of Israel from the sacred
    places according to the United Nation Resolution 242 and 339
    (According to these Resolution Israel has to withdraw till the 1947
    borders). Azerbaijan also supports this plan in the favour of Arab
    World. Even in resent Israel Lebanon War Azerbaijan was one of the
    eight OIC states, which sent an ultimatum to Israel for stopping
    violent action in Lebanon. Azerbaijan also agreed to send peacekeeping
    forces to Lebanon.

    Developing diplomatic relation with Israel will provoke Iran against
    Azerbaijan, in a period of escalation of Iran-America-Israel
    relation. That is a great threat for the security of
    Azerbaijan. Because Iran several times declared that, if the US
    declares war against us, the first target will be the US allies in the
    Middle East. Today the tension between America and Iran is very high,
    and Israel is one of the big supporters of America in this issue
    and the first target of Iran. Developing full diplomatic relations
    with Israel can damage the relations with one of the most important
    neighbours of Azerbaijan. For that reason balancing policy can be
    good diplomacy during this period.

    But following all of these factors Azerbaijan has good economic
    and cultural relations with Israel. Even, according to Azerbaijani
    officials, Azerbaijan plans to open a trade office in Israel, which
    will represent the Azerbaijani government in Israel. In an interview
    with The Jerusalem Post, Foreign Minister Elmar Memmedyarov also
    added that "having full diplomatic relations will happen for sure".

    Israel investors are interested not only in the energy sector,
    but also in agriculture, Azerbaijan's largest employer and second
    largest sector after oil. And Azerbaijan is a tolerant state, and
    ready to develop good relations with any country, as long as, these
    relations will not damage its security, national interests and also
    international prestige.

    REFERENCE:

    1. Hilary Leila Krieger: May 17, 2006,"Azerbaijan to open trade office
    in Israel", Jerusalem Post

    2. Ilya Bourtman: Summer 2006, "Israel and Azerbaijan's Furtive
    Embrace", Middle East Quarterly, pp.47-57

    3. Israeli Ambassador: 27 June 2007 "Azerbaijan and Israel have
    strategic relations",

    http://www.azertag.com/index_en. html

    4. Joanna Sloame: July 10, 2006 "The Virtual Jewish History Tour
    Azerbaijan"

    http://www.jewishvirtuallib rary.org/jsource/vjw/Azerbaijan.html

    5. Lev Krichevsky: February 9-13, 2006, "In meeting with
    Jews, Azeri leader hints at stronger relations with Israel,
    http://www.ncsj.org/AuxPages/021306Azerbai jan.shtml

    6. Soner Cagaptay and Alexandr Murinson: March30, 2005, "Good Relation
    between Azerbaijan and Israel: A Model for Other Muslim States in
    Eurasia?" The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

    7. Shamkhal Abilov, 25 July, 2007, Interview with Dr. Rovshan Ibrahimov
    8. Day.Az interview with Israeli Foreign Minister Tsipi Livni, 10
    November 2008, http://www.today.az/news/politics/48863.html
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