(Communicated by the Foreign Minister's Bureau)
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman met on Tuesday (9 February 2010) in Baku with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov. FM Liberman discussed global and Middle Eastern issues with his hosts.
In his meeting with President Aliyev, FM Liberman stated that in his estimation, indirect talks with the Palestinians would begin shortly. He also expressed the hope that his hosts would emphasize the importance of renewing direct talks between the Palestinians and Israel during the forthcoming visit of Palestinian Authority Chairman Abu Mazen to Baku.
In the meeting with FM Mammadyarov, bilateral issues and cooperation between the two countries were discussed. Ministers Liberman and Mammdyarov discussed cooperation on the issue of water desalinization, special education, medical studies, homeland security, green energy and a double-tax agreement. In light of the importance of desalinization to Azerbaijan, FM Mammadyarov expressed his wish to send a delegation to study the Israeli desalinization plants in Hadera and Ashkelon.
During the talk, FM Liberman also raised the issue of abolition of visa requirements for Israeli diplomats.
The ministers agreed to continue high-level consultations between their ministries.
More meetings in Baku
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman held meetings on Wednesday (10 February) in Baku with Speaker of Parliament Oktav Asadov, oil industry leaders, and members of the Jewish community. He also conducted a briefing for foreign ambassadors serving in Azerbaijan.
At the meetings FM Liberman said that both countries are continuing positive trends in their diplomatic, economic and cultural development. He made special mention of the tolerance shown by the different religious and ethnic groups living in Azerbaijan and said that this could serve as a model of stability and tolerance that combines the traditions, history, openness and universal values of the modern world.
FM Liberman noted that the dialogue between Israel and Azerbaijan is an excellent example of cooperation between a modern Islamic state and the Jewish state, enabling them to work out areas of disagreement.
The Israeli foreign minister stated that Israel respects Azerbaijan’s unity and wishes success to the Minsk Group, which is working on resolving the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.