Samad Seyidov Mission to Israel

Last week Samad Seyidov, head of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE made a "secret" trip to Israel, where he was received at the highest level. However, the Azerbaijani side did not report on the visit, although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received Seyidov.

From reports in the Israeli press, it became known that the International Association of Israel - Azerbaijan "AzIz" and the Israeli Foreign Ministry, organized the visit of the parliamentary commission for international affairs and Seyidov.

Seyidov visited the Knesset where Amnon Cohen (SHAS), Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Association Israel - Azerbaijan received him. The speaker of the Knesset, Yuli Edelstein, also received Seyidov.

Then Seyidov was invited to the Prime Minister's Office, where Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu received him.

"Your visit to Israel once again proves that the relations between our countries are developing in the right direction," said the prime minister. He expressed hope that both sides will make their best efforts to further improve relations and ensure mutually beneficial development of multilateral cooperation.

Immediately after Seyidov's visit, Israeli ambassador in Baku Rafael Harpaz told reporters Israel and Azerbaijan would soon sign an agreement on the facilitation of entry of Azerbaijani citizens having diplomatic and service passports into Israel.

"Azerbaijan is a very important state for us, and in the near future we will address the issue of visa-free visits," said the Ambassador, praising bilateral relations, and expressing hope for an early opening of the Azerbaijani embassy in Israel.

"We believe that the Azerbaijani government will open an embassy in Israel," said the diplomat. This topic was discussed during the visit to Israel of the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov and Samad Seyidov.

The "secret" character of the Seyidov visit was probably connected with the desire not to irritate neighboring Iran and now Turkey. It is possible that the recent tightening of the order to cross the border with Azerbaijan by Iran was also the result of this visit to Israel. -02D-