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AZERBAIJAN IS ISRAEL'S LARGEST PARTNER IN SOUTH CAUCASUS - ISRAELI EXPERT
news.az
June 1 2011
Azerbaijan
News.Az interviews Alexander Goldenstein, editor-in-chief of
IzRus.co.il portal, expert on South Caucasus.
Can you tell, please, what is happening around the upcoming debate
on the so-called "genocide "of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in
education and science commission of the Knesset?
On 18 May, the parliamentarians submitted the question of recognition
of the Armenian "genocide" of 1915 (in the Ottoman Empire) to the
Knesset committee on education, culture and sport. As a result,
there was a lot of noise in media, but little has changed in reality.
According to the Knesset regulations, the committee should consider
recognition of the "genocide" and submit a resolution for the
parliament's approval. In the meantime, the chairman of the commission
is not obliged to vote.
Please note that the issue of recognition of "Armenian genocide"
is raised in the Knesset almost every year. What's different this time?
Until now, discussions over this issue were held at the foreign
affairs and defense commission, whose meetings are closed to public.
This time the discussions will be held in an "open" commission. I dare
say the result will be the same - at some point the question will be
"buried" and forgotten until the next spring.
So, MPs are less likely to adopt a resolution recognizing "genocide"
after it is raised in the parliament itself?
Our national football team would rather reach the World Cup. I am
quoting Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon: "There is no chance that
the Knesset will recognize the "Armenian genocide." It is impossible.
We can not spoil relations with Azerbaijan, our major strategic
partners in the Muslim world, because of controversial historical
issues relating to the events that took place a century ago. Danny
Ayalon is member of the party "Israel Our Home" headed by Foreign
Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
Head of the Knesset committee on education, culture and sport Alex
Miller is also a member of this party. Over recent years, MPs and
ministers from "Israel Our Home" have traditionally been the staunchest
supporters of partnership with Azerbaijan. They consistently oppose
the recognition of Armenian "genocide". Since 2008, when the Knesset
commission voted for consideration of the "Armenian question" for the
first time, "Israel Our Home" annually torpedoed further decisions
on this issue.
Can the recently strained relations between Israel and Turkey play
a part in this case?
This is highly unlikely. Erdogan acted against Israel and turned two
old friends - the people of Israel and Turkey - almost into enemies
for slightly over two years. He has his reasons to do this. But it is
no time to discuss them. The main thing is that countries continue
to cooperate, just not as close as before. We still have a lot of
common interests. Except for some noisy MPs, no one in Knesset, and
even in the government, intends to act in opposition to Turkey and
openly provoke it.
Recently, experts from different countries have once again talked about
a possible war of the United States and Israel against Iran. Has this
become real and if so, what is the reason?
I do not know who these experts are. Unfortunately, in recent years
there have been too many "experts" in the press. I see "experts"
seriously discussing the geopolitical processes and who hardly
distinguish an aircraft carrier from a destroyer and Iran from Iraq.
Incidentally, this is a message to many media outlets which publish
everything not even bothering to check whether this "expert"
understands this or that subject.
Returning to the question, I do not believe in this scenario, at least,
in the coming years. The war is fraught for both sides. Key danger of
attack on Iran is that the people will unite around the Ayatollahs
regime, as it was during the Iran-Iraq war. I am sure that Israel
and the U.S. understand this. The main thing for us is to destroy
Iran from the inside and tear away Kurds, Arabs, Baluchis and other
nationalities from Tehran. Iran begins quietly seethe, and I do not
believe that the "Arab spring" can become "a Persian summer", but the
process has begun, so it would be silly to attack the Islamic republic.
How would you assess Azerbaijan-Israeli ties in military sphere
(defense industry, arms purchase) and economy? Can you, please,
compare them with Armenia-Israel ties?
The relationships are excellent. Cooperation continues and it covers
new industries. I note that a delegation of representatives of large IT
companies headed by Director General of the Ministry of Communications
visited Azerbaijan this month. Our countries maintain very successful
cooperation in the field of agriculture. Israel's ambassador to Baku
Michael Lavon Lotem places much emphasis on economic side of the
Israeli-Azerbaijani relations. So, one can say unequivocally that
today Azerbaijan is Israel's largest partner in the South Caucasus.
As for Israeli-Armenian economic relations, of course, they are far
away from Israeli-Azerbaijani ties. Israel and Armenia are quite
friendly countries. We simply have nothing to trade with each other
(to put it the simplest language).
Is the Karabakh conflict likely to resume? What position will Israel
take in case hostilities resume?
I would better not to discuss Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. There are
experts who are good at it. I can just say that Israel does not want
a new war to erupt. As I said, we enjoy good relations with Baku and
normal relations with Yerevan.
In case of conflict, Israel will not interfere, but try to contribute
to its termination and will offer its mediation services.
On the other hand, having lived in the Middle East for over 20 years,
I understand that the more middlemen are involved, the less chance will
be for conflict resolution. If the whole world had not interfered with
their disservice, we would have had long lived in peace with the Arabs.
In your opinion, how soon Baku will open its diplomatic mission in
Israel? What grounds are needed for this?
Not any time soon. I do not believe that this will happen in the
coming years. Azerbaijan neighbors with the biggest and worst enemy
of the Jewish state, which would react very negatively to opening of
embassy in Israel. I can talk nonsense saying that Baku should pursue
an independent policy and not pay attention to Iran, but, fortunately,
I have not gone mad yet. Baku has not gone mad, too. Israel understands
it very well that why there is no Azerbaijani embassy in Tel Aviv
and is well aware that Baku does not want Iran's inadequate reaction
directed in particular against the Iranian Azerbaijanis. I hope
Azerbaijan diplomatic mission will open in Tel Aviv once Ayatollahs'
regime collapses.
Hamid Hamidov (Moscow, Russia) News.Az
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
news.az
June 1 2011
Azerbaijan
News.Az interviews Alexander Goldenstein, editor-in-chief of
IzRus.co.il portal, expert on South Caucasus.
Can you tell, please, what is happening around the upcoming debate
on the so-called "genocide "of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in
education and science commission of the Knesset?
On 18 May, the parliamentarians submitted the question of recognition
of the Armenian "genocide" of 1915 (in the Ottoman Empire) to the
Knesset committee on education, culture and sport. As a result,
there was a lot of noise in media, but little has changed in reality.
According to the Knesset regulations, the committee should consider
recognition of the "genocide" and submit a resolution for the
parliament's approval. In the meantime, the chairman of the commission
is not obliged to vote.
Please note that the issue of recognition of "Armenian genocide"
is raised in the Knesset almost every year. What's different this time?
Until now, discussions over this issue were held at the foreign
affairs and defense commission, whose meetings are closed to public.
This time the discussions will be held in an "open" commission. I dare
say the result will be the same - at some point the question will be
"buried" and forgotten until the next spring.
So, MPs are less likely to adopt a resolution recognizing "genocide"
after it is raised in the parliament itself?
Our national football team would rather reach the World Cup. I am
quoting Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon: "There is no chance that
the Knesset will recognize the "Armenian genocide." It is impossible.
We can not spoil relations with Azerbaijan, our major strategic
partners in the Muslim world, because of controversial historical
issues relating to the events that took place a century ago. Danny
Ayalon is member of the party "Israel Our Home" headed by Foreign
Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
Head of the Knesset committee on education, culture and sport Alex
Miller is also a member of this party. Over recent years, MPs and
ministers from "Israel Our Home" have traditionally been the staunchest
supporters of partnership with Azerbaijan. They consistently oppose
the recognition of Armenian "genocide". Since 2008, when the Knesset
commission voted for consideration of the "Armenian question" for the
first time, "Israel Our Home" annually torpedoed further decisions
on this issue.
Can the recently strained relations between Israel and Turkey play
a part in this case?
This is highly unlikely. Erdogan acted against Israel and turned two
old friends - the people of Israel and Turkey - almost into enemies
for slightly over two years. He has his reasons to do this. But it is
no time to discuss them. The main thing is that countries continue
to cooperate, just not as close as before. We still have a lot of
common interests. Except for some noisy MPs, no one in Knesset, and
even in the government, intends to act in opposition to Turkey and
openly provoke it.
Recently, experts from different countries have once again talked about
a possible war of the United States and Israel against Iran. Has this
become real and if so, what is the reason?
I do not know who these experts are. Unfortunately, in recent years
there have been too many "experts" in the press. I see "experts"
seriously discussing the geopolitical processes and who hardly
distinguish an aircraft carrier from a destroyer and Iran from Iraq.
Incidentally, this is a message to many media outlets which publish
everything not even bothering to check whether this "expert"
understands this or that subject.
Returning to the question, I do not believe in this scenario, at least,
in the coming years. The war is fraught for both sides. Key danger of
attack on Iran is that the people will unite around the Ayatollahs
regime, as it was during the Iran-Iraq war. I am sure that Israel
and the U.S. understand this. The main thing for us is to destroy
Iran from the inside and tear away Kurds, Arabs, Baluchis and other
nationalities from Tehran. Iran begins quietly seethe, and I do not
believe that the "Arab spring" can become "a Persian summer", but the
process has begun, so it would be silly to attack the Islamic republic.
How would you assess Azerbaijan-Israeli ties in military sphere
(defense industry, arms purchase) and economy? Can you, please,
compare them with Armenia-Israel ties?
The relationships are excellent. Cooperation continues and it covers
new industries. I note that a delegation of representatives of large IT
companies headed by Director General of the Ministry of Communications
visited Azerbaijan this month. Our countries maintain very successful
cooperation in the field of agriculture. Israel's ambassador to Baku
Michael Lavon Lotem places much emphasis on economic side of the
Israeli-Azerbaijani relations. So, one can say unequivocally that
today Azerbaijan is Israel's largest partner in the South Caucasus.
As for Israeli-Armenian economic relations, of course, they are far
away from Israeli-Azerbaijani ties. Israel and Armenia are quite
friendly countries. We simply have nothing to trade with each other
(to put it the simplest language).
Is the Karabakh conflict likely to resume? What position will Israel
take in case hostilities resume?
I would better not to discuss Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. There are
experts who are good at it. I can just say that Israel does not want
a new war to erupt. As I said, we enjoy good relations with Baku and
normal relations with Yerevan.
In case of conflict, Israel will not interfere, but try to contribute
to its termination and will offer its mediation services.
On the other hand, having lived in the Middle East for over 20 years,
I understand that the more middlemen are involved, the less chance will
be for conflict resolution. If the whole world had not interfered with
their disservice, we would have had long lived in peace with the Arabs.
In your opinion, how soon Baku will open its diplomatic mission in
Israel? What grounds are needed for this?
Not any time soon. I do not believe that this will happen in the
coming years. Azerbaijan neighbors with the biggest and worst enemy
of the Jewish state, which would react very negatively to opening of
embassy in Israel. I can talk nonsense saying that Baku should pursue
an independent policy and not pay attention to Iran, but, fortunately,
I have not gone mad yet. Baku has not gone mad, too. Israel understands
it very well that why there is no Azerbaijani embassy in Tel Aviv
and is well aware that Baku does not want Iran's inadequate reaction
directed in particular against the Iranian Azerbaijanis. I hope
Azerbaijan diplomatic mission will open in Tel Aviv once Ayatollahs'
regime collapses.
Hamid Hamidov (Moscow, Russia) News.Az
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress