Extraordinary times: Iran, Azerbaijan and Israel
Ayse Karabat
The New Anatolian
May 16, 2006
Extraordinary times demand extraordinary attention. Nowadays in our region, on top of our existing problems, Iran's nuclear program is making the situation even more extraordinary. Within this framework, developments in Israeli, Azerbaijani and Iranian relations require extraordinary attention.
One of the major pillars of Israel's foreign policy is based on the periphery states doctrine, as Israel thinks it's surrounded by "hostile" Arab regimes. Since its establishment it's paid special attention to establishing good bilateral ties with more remote non-Arab regional neighbors like Turkey. Iran in the past, as well as Ethiopia, were also targets of Israel's periphery state doctrine, although it didn't work for several reasons. But Israel did its best.
While Iran's nuclear program continues at high speed, Israel is also doing its best to develop ties with Azerbaijan, despite some hesitation from Baku.
Actually, Israeli-Azerbaijani ties are nothing new.
As stated by Soner Cagaptay and Alexander Murinson, since the early 1990s, Israeli-Azerbaijani relations have expanded to include cooperation in trade and security matters as well as cultural and educational exchanges. Israeli business involvement in Azerbaijan includes investment by Israeli-owned Bakcell, a cell phone operator, which is the second largest in the Azerbaijani market after Turkish-owned Turkcell. Added to which, many Israeli investors have significant shares in Turkish-operated Azerbaijani ventures. There's also military and intelligence cooperation between the two. Israel also supports Azerbaijan in its dispute with Armenia.
Israel's Ambassador to Baku Arthur Lenk in February told a meeting of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations that Azerbaijan might use the Ashkelon-Eilat oil pipeline to transfer the oil it plans to begin retrieving from the Caspian Sea to countries in the West. Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chair of the conference, said he was optimistic Azerbaijan would remain loyal to its relationship with Israel throughout the Iranian crisis. "The message from here has been very clear," Hoenlein said, "Azerbaijan takes its relationship with Israel very seriously and could play a key role in the Iranian showdown."
Azerbaijan has some problems with Iran. Not only because of territorial claims over the Caspian Sea but also because ethnic Azeris constitute between 15 and 20 million of Iran's total population of 70 million. It's no secret that most of the major players are seriously thinking about using that to slow Iran down.
Recently there was an article in Israeli daily the Jerusalem Post which described Azerbaijan as a strategic partner of the U.S. and Israel which could play a major role in the current showdown with Iran over its nuclear ambitions.
But Azerbaijan is unwillingly to cooperate with anyone against Iran. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev recently told the Iranian ambassador that he wouldn't allow the U.S. to launch an attack from his country.
Like other reasonable countries in the region, Azerbaijan seeks a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear program because it's very well aware of the catastrophic consequences of the other solutions.
Aliyev was in Washington 10 days ago. There he was asked to open an embassy in Israel as since 1993 there's been an Israeli Embassy in Baku but no Azerbaijani one in Tel-Aviv.
Aliyev hasn't declined the request. He hasn't agreed either, yet …
*Soner Cagatay and Alexander Murinson, "Good Relations Between Azerbaijan and Israel: A model for Other Muslim States in Eurasia"
The New Anatolian
May 16, 2006
Extraordinary times demand extraordinary attention. Nowadays in our region, on top of our existing problems, Iran's nuclear program is making the situation even more extraordinary. Within this framework, developments in Israeli, Azerbaijani and Iranian relations require extraordinary attention.
One of the major pillars of Israel's foreign policy is based on the periphery states doctrine, as Israel thinks it's surrounded by "hostile" Arab regimes. Since its establishment it's paid special attention to establishing good bilateral ties with more remote non-Arab regional neighbors like Turkey. Iran in the past, as well as Ethiopia, were also targets of Israel's periphery state doctrine, although it didn't work for several reasons. But Israel did its best.
While Iran's nuclear program continues at high speed, Israel is also doing its best to develop ties with Azerbaijan, despite some hesitation from Baku.
Actually, Israeli-Azerbaijani ties are nothing new.
As stated by Soner Cagaptay and Alexander Murinson, since the early 1990s, Israeli-Azerbaijani relations have expanded to include cooperation in trade and security matters as well as cultural and educational exchanges. Israeli business involvement in Azerbaijan includes investment by Israeli-owned Bakcell, a cell phone operator, which is the second largest in the Azerbaijani market after Turkish-owned Turkcell. Added to which, many Israeli investors have significant shares in Turkish-operated Azerbaijani ventures. There's also military and intelligence cooperation between the two. Israel also supports Azerbaijan in its dispute with Armenia.
Israel's Ambassador to Baku Arthur Lenk in February told a meeting of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations that Azerbaijan might use the Ashkelon-Eilat oil pipeline to transfer the oil it plans to begin retrieving from the Caspian Sea to countries in the West. Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chair of the conference, said he was optimistic Azerbaijan would remain loyal to its relationship with Israel throughout the Iranian crisis. "The message from here has been very clear," Hoenlein said, "Azerbaijan takes its relationship with Israel very seriously and could play a key role in the Iranian showdown."
Azerbaijan has some problems with Iran. Not only because of territorial claims over the Caspian Sea but also because ethnic Azeris constitute between 15 and 20 million of Iran's total population of 70 million. It's no secret that most of the major players are seriously thinking about using that to slow Iran down.
Recently there was an article in Israeli daily the Jerusalem Post which described Azerbaijan as a strategic partner of the U.S. and Israel which could play a major role in the current showdown with Iran over its nuclear ambitions.
But Azerbaijan is unwillingly to cooperate with anyone against Iran. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev recently told the Iranian ambassador that he wouldn't allow the U.S. to launch an attack from his country.
Like other reasonable countries in the region, Azerbaijan seeks a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear program because it's very well aware of the catastrophic consequences of the other solutions.
Aliyev was in Washington 10 days ago. There he was asked to open an embassy in Israel as since 1993 there's been an Israeli Embassy in Baku but no Azerbaijani one in Tel-Aviv.
Aliyev hasn't declined the request. He hasn't agreed either, yet …
*Soner Cagatay and Alexander Murinson, "Good Relations Between Azerbaijan and Israel: A model for Other Muslim States in Eurasia"
posted by Alexander Murinson at 7:46 PM
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