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AZERBAIJAN AND ISRAEL WORK AGAINST IRAN
Pravda
http://english.pravda.ru/hotspots/conflicts/10-05-2012/121072-azerbaijan_israel_iran-0/
May 10 2012
Russia
Mass media continues to debate on the topic of the rapprochement of
Israel and Azerbaijan. The scandalous publication in the US-based
Foreign Policy about the alleged transfer of an Azeri military
airfield to the disposal of the Israeli military has caused quite a
controversy. In late April, officials of the two states were quick
to refute the rumors about the possible use of the country for an
attack on Iran.
Baku denied the transfer of the abandoned military base to third
countries. Tel Aviv flatly denied the rumors as well. Israeli Foreign
Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that the rumors about the use of IDF
airbase "Sitalchay" are spread by people with rich imagination. "The
press publishes a lot of speculation," Jewish.ru quoted the Foreign
Minister.
Nonetheless, Lieberman immediately after the completion of his April
visit to Baku acknowledged that the "Iranian issue" was discussed at a
meeting with President Ilham Aliyev. The Minister did not disclose the
details of the talks. This "diplomatic game" is beneficial for both
Israel and Azerbaijan. Both parties prefer not to disclose to their
likely opponents the details of the mutually beneficial cooperation
(including the military sphere). Many Israeli experts talk openly
about the importance of a strategic partnership with Azerbaijan.
However, Baku continues to count on the understanding and support from
Tel Aviv in resolving regional disputes. The Armenian-Azeri conflict
over Nagorno-Karabakh is far from final resolution. Statements by
Israeli officials to support the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan
suggest that Tel Aviv shares the position of Baku on the Karabakh
issue.
Of great interest to the Azeri armed forces is Israeli military
equipment. In conditions of rapid economic growth, the rearmament
of the country that gained independence only two decades ago has
been given more attention. Having exhausted the possibilities of the
European arms markets, Azerbaijan appealed to Israel.
The scale of military-technical cooperation between Tel Aviv and Baku
was revealed in secret documents published on the website Wikileaks.
"Thanks to close ties with Israel, Azerbaijan has access to a new
level of arms for the development of their own army. This equipment
cannot be obtained either from the U.S. or Europe due to various legal
restrictions, or from the ex-Soviet suppliers from Belarus and Ukraine.
Where the rest of the West is afraid to sell the land combat systems
to Azerbaijan out of fear to cause a fresh outbreak of the war for the
possession of the lands of Nagorno-Karabakh, Israel is free to contract
for a substantial supply of arms and benefit from a rich client.
In September of 2008, Azerbaijan has quietly signed with the Israeli
Ministry of Defense a large agreement that allows local companies to
supply three mortars, ammunition, rocket launchers and communications
equipment. The company "Soltam" was awarded a contract for the supply
of mortars and ammunition, "Tadiran Communications" will provide
communication devices, and the "Israeli Military Industries" will
provide the rockets.
It offers a wide range of rocket artillery, methods of upgrading
the old Soviet 122-mm systems "Grad" (BM-21), guidance systems for
122-300-millimeter rockets and launch vehicles for the 300-millimeter
rockets, analytical agency "Novosti Armenia" reported. Even then,
military contracts have been signed for hundreds of millions of
dollars. In 2011, local media reported the beginning of production
of Israeli drones on the territory of Azerbaijan.
New data on arms transfers from Israel have been recently published
in several media outlets. In February of 2012 Azerbaijan has agreed
to pay the state company "Israel Aerospace Industries" $1.6 billion
for a wide range of military products, including unmanned aircraft and
antiaircraft and antimissile defense system - according to the portal
"The Armenian News" referring to the Northwest Arkansas Times.
However, the head of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Avigor
Lieberman during his visit to Baku in late April said that the
information about the development of close military cooperation between
the countries does not correspond to reality. At an official meeting
with the Azeri colleagues the bilateral cooperation in education,
medicine and agriculture was discussed. In addition, Azerbaijan is
the largest supplier of oil to Israel. Bilateral trade reached a
record four billion dollars.
Rapprochement of Tel Aviv and Baku causes unconcealed irritation
in Tehran. The relations between Azerbaijan and Iran deteriorated
continuously, and in early 2012 the Iranian authorities summoned the
Azeri ambassador to Tehran Foreign Ministry in connection with the
reports that the Azeri government allows Israeli Mossad agents to
gather information along the Azeri-Iranian border, Northwest Arkansas
Times reported.
Nevertheless, the Islamic Republic is trying to keep good relations
with Azerbaijan the majority of whose population is of Muslim faith.
Ironically, the current balance of power can still maintain a "poor
peace" in the region. For Armenia it would not be beneficial to wage
a war in Karabakh, as in this case the Armenian armed forces would
have to deal with the Azeri army that has received military assistance
from the Israelis.
At the same time, the Azeri "hawks" understand that in a case of war
for the return of the lost territories, Armenia may receive strong
support from Russia and Iran. It is important to remember that
Azerbaijan is perhaps the only reliable regional partner of Israel
surrounded by hostile Arab states. Therefore, Tel Aviv will continue
to further strengthen the strategic partnership with Azerbaijan.
Yuri Sosinsky-Semikhat
Pravda.Ru
Pravda
http://english.pravda.ru/hotspots/conflicts/10-05-2012/121072-azerbaijan_israel_iran-0/
May 10 2012
Russia
Mass media continues to debate on the topic of the rapprochement of
Israel and Azerbaijan. The scandalous publication in the US-based
Foreign Policy about the alleged transfer of an Azeri military
airfield to the disposal of the Israeli military has caused quite a
controversy. In late April, officials of the two states were quick
to refute the rumors about the possible use of the country for an
attack on Iran.
Baku denied the transfer of the abandoned military base to third
countries. Tel Aviv flatly denied the rumors as well. Israeli Foreign
Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that the rumors about the use of IDF
airbase "Sitalchay" are spread by people with rich imagination. "The
press publishes a lot of speculation," Jewish.ru quoted the Foreign
Minister.
Nonetheless, Lieberman immediately after the completion of his April
visit to Baku acknowledged that the "Iranian issue" was discussed at a
meeting with President Ilham Aliyev. The Minister did not disclose the
details of the talks. This "diplomatic game" is beneficial for both
Israel and Azerbaijan. Both parties prefer not to disclose to their
likely opponents the details of the mutually beneficial cooperation
(including the military sphere). Many Israeli experts talk openly
about the importance of a strategic partnership with Azerbaijan.
However, Baku continues to count on the understanding and support from
Tel Aviv in resolving regional disputes. The Armenian-Azeri conflict
over Nagorno-Karabakh is far from final resolution. Statements by
Israeli officials to support the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan
suggest that Tel Aviv shares the position of Baku on the Karabakh
issue.
Of great interest to the Azeri armed forces is Israeli military
equipment. In conditions of rapid economic growth, the rearmament
of the country that gained independence only two decades ago has
been given more attention. Having exhausted the possibilities of the
European arms markets, Azerbaijan appealed to Israel.
The scale of military-technical cooperation between Tel Aviv and Baku
was revealed in secret documents published on the website Wikileaks.
"Thanks to close ties with Israel, Azerbaijan has access to a new
level of arms for the development of their own army. This equipment
cannot be obtained either from the U.S. or Europe due to various legal
restrictions, or from the ex-Soviet suppliers from Belarus and Ukraine.
Where the rest of the West is afraid to sell the land combat systems
to Azerbaijan out of fear to cause a fresh outbreak of the war for the
possession of the lands of Nagorno-Karabakh, Israel is free to contract
for a substantial supply of arms and benefit from a rich client.
In September of 2008, Azerbaijan has quietly signed with the Israeli
Ministry of Defense a large agreement that allows local companies to
supply three mortars, ammunition, rocket launchers and communications
equipment. The company "Soltam" was awarded a contract for the supply
of mortars and ammunition, "Tadiran Communications" will provide
communication devices, and the "Israeli Military Industries" will
provide the rockets.
It offers a wide range of rocket artillery, methods of upgrading
the old Soviet 122-mm systems "Grad" (BM-21), guidance systems for
122-300-millimeter rockets and launch vehicles for the 300-millimeter
rockets, analytical agency "Novosti Armenia" reported. Even then,
military contracts have been signed for hundreds of millions of
dollars. In 2011, local media reported the beginning of production
of Israeli drones on the territory of Azerbaijan.
New data on arms transfers from Israel have been recently published
in several media outlets. In February of 2012 Azerbaijan has agreed
to pay the state company "Israel Aerospace Industries" $1.6 billion
for a wide range of military products, including unmanned aircraft and
antiaircraft and antimissile defense system - according to the portal
"The Armenian News" referring to the Northwest Arkansas Times.
However, the head of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Avigor
Lieberman during his visit to Baku in late April said that the
information about the development of close military cooperation between
the countries does not correspond to reality. At an official meeting
with the Azeri colleagues the bilateral cooperation in education,
medicine and agriculture was discussed. In addition, Azerbaijan is
the largest supplier of oil to Israel. Bilateral trade reached a
record four billion dollars.
Rapprochement of Tel Aviv and Baku causes unconcealed irritation
in Tehran. The relations between Azerbaijan and Iran deteriorated
continuously, and in early 2012 the Iranian authorities summoned the
Azeri ambassador to Tehran Foreign Ministry in connection with the
reports that the Azeri government allows Israeli Mossad agents to
gather information along the Azeri-Iranian border, Northwest Arkansas
Times reported.
Nevertheless, the Islamic Republic is trying to keep good relations
with Azerbaijan the majority of whose population is of Muslim faith.
Ironically, the current balance of power can still maintain a "poor
peace" in the region. For Armenia it would not be beneficial to wage
a war in Karabakh, as in this case the Armenian armed forces would
have to deal with the Azeri army that has received military assistance
from the Israelis.
At the same time, the Azeri "hawks" understand that in a case of war
for the return of the lost territories, Armenia may receive strong
support from Russia and Iran. It is important to remember that
Azerbaijan is perhaps the only reliable regional partner of Israel
surrounded by hostile Arab states. Therefore, Tel Aviv will continue
to further strengthen the strategic partnership with Azerbaijan.
Yuri Sosinsky-Semikhat
Pravda.Ru