Lieberman: Israel is interested in gas cooperation with Azerbaijan

Relations between Israel and Azerbaijan are at the highest level, said Foreign Minister of Israel, Avigdor Lieberman, on May 1  at the press conference in Baku. He called the last two meetings of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev with the  President and Prime Minister of Israel, Shimon Peres and Benjamin Netanyahu, "a milestone in the development of bilateral relations."

Lieberman noted the positive trend in the development of relations in the sphere of high technology , ICT, agriculture and energy.

The Minister also noted the prospects for cooperation in the exploration and supply of natural gas, expressed hope that the two sides agreed to a "general line" on gas cooperation .

Asked about the opening of the Azerbaijani embassy in Israel, Lieberman said: "Azerbaijan will decide when it will be. Our embassy  has been operating in this country for a long time, but even without the embassy cooperation and coordination between the two foreign ministries is on the highest level . "

He said that next week flights between Baku and Tel Aviv will be doubled, calling it an indication expansion of ties. Asked about a possible rapprochement between Azerbaijan and Iran , Lieberman said that Israel does not interfere in the internal affairs of other states, and any country has its own priorities in foreign policy and relations with neighbors.

About the tensions between Israel and Turkey, Lieberman said that the two countries for decades had a great relationship, and  cooling the relations is not Israel’s fault, but Israel does not withdrew its ambassador from Ankara. At the same time, he noted that trade between the two countries increased by a quarter, and expressed hope for a "leveling relations" with Ankara. –06C-