The visit of the Minister of Defense of the State of Israel to Azerbaijan can be considered historical and vital since this is the first visit of Avigdor Lieberman to Azerbaijan as the Minister of Defense of Israel.
This was stated in the information and analytical program "Day" of the Ninth Israeli TV channel with the popular Israeli host Vladimir Rav-Tsion, the head of the Israeli non-governmental organization "International Projects for Society", the well-known Israeli expert in the field of international relations, Aryeh Gut
Israeli expert underlined that with a contemporary stage friendly and trustful ties of cooperation and partnership between Azerbaijan and Israel represent a true and original model for many countries of the world. In the most difficult moments, these countries are always together, always feel and give each other mutual support. One of the important reasons for the strong partnership is the human factor - a long and close fraternal friendship between the Azerbaijanis and the 25,000 Jewish communities living in Azerbaijan for more than 2600 years. The level of political dialogue and trust between the leaders of countries at the highest level, the relationship in almost all spheres of life between the two states at a sufficiently high level, "said Aryeh Gut.
According to Gut, the Israeli Defense Minister is one of the most influential political heavyweights of Israeli politics. "Avigdor Lieberman is known as a brutal but very pragmatic politician. He is uncompromising, but even so, he still enjoys respect both among friends and among opponents, because he courageously calls things by their genuine names. Unlike many Israeli politicians, it is common knowledge that Avigdor Lieberman is a man of the word if he has said something or promised, then he will certainly do it, he knows how to remain faithful to friends. At the same time, Avigdor Lieberman always correctly focuses his attention on real, devoted friends of Israel, and his stake on Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus region justifies itself. At the same time, Avigdor Lieberman always properly focuses his attention on real, faithful friends of Israel, and his bet on Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus region justifies itself. I will not reveal a big secret if I say that along with the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, from the Israeli side it is Avigdor Lieberman who is one of the true architects of the Azerbaijani-Israeli strategic partnership. It was Lieberman's foreign policy concept that turned Azerbaijan into an Israeli foreign policy strategy from an ordinary post-Soviet country to a strategic partner of the State of Israel. It was Lieberman who realized the strategic importance and geopolitical importance of Azerbaijan in the region. The first official visit of Avigdor Lieberman to Azerbaijan as the Minister of Defense of Israel and his warm, friendly and sincere meeting with the leadership of Azerbaijan, including President Ilham Aliyev and Defense Minister Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov is an important historic step and a new stage in the development and strengthening of relations between Israel and Azerbaijan in the political and military-technical sphere, "stressed Aryeh Gut, talking on a live stream of the information and analytical program" Day "of the Ninth Israeli TV Channel.
The expert in his commentary paid special attention to the Azerbaijani-Israeli economic relations and called the cooperation between our countries as a strategic partnership.
"Azerbaijani-Israeli relations are positive and represent today a real strategic partnership. Azerbaijan-Israel trade cooperation is flourishing and amounts to almost 4.5 billion dollars. Despite the fact that this cooperation was previously oriented to the oil and gas industry, at present this cooperation is diversifying into other sectors of the economy, including agriculture, high-tech industry, public health, military-technical partnership. Israeli defense companies have actively participated and continue to participate in the construction of the Azerbaijani military industry. It should be noted that Israel is one of the main strategic buyers of Azerbaijani oil in the world market, "the Israeli analyst stressed.
Talking to Israeli television, Aryeh Gut noted that, unfortunately, there are countries that observe the development and strengthening of the Israeli-Azerbaijani strategic partnership with great envy and irritation. "One of such countries is the Republic of Armenia, which occupied 20% of the territory of Azerbaijani Republic and as a result of this aggression today there are 1 million refugees and IDPs in Azerbaijan." Recalling the April events of 2016, I would like to remind that it was the military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel that radically changed the balance of forces in the region and the armed forces of Azerbaijan practically destroyed the forward sections (avant-garde) of the Armenian occupation army in a few days. What concerns the criticism from Armenian side, I would say that Azerbaijan and Israel themselves choose their friends and partners, and these countries themselves determine the level of strategic cooperation in the military-technical sphere. Moreover, no one has the right to interfere in this strong strategic partnership, "added Aryeh Guth.
Then the Israeli expert talked about the inextricable cultural relations between our countries and peoples and recalled the participation of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra in the 10th Gabala Musical International Festival. "A month ago, together with journalists of Israeli leading newspapers and television, I was in the magnificent Azerbaijani city of Gabala and listened to the 4th Concert of Sergei Rachmaninov for piano and orchestra performed by the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. I sat thinking about the Azerbaijan Republic - this wonderful and the hospitable secular country of the South Caucasus, and the strategic partner of Israel in Eurasia - has become a place of concentration of wonderful musicians of the world level, a real platform of friendship, cooperation, partner tolerance, and true multiculturalism. I am proud that the famous Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra took part and was very warmly received by the Azerbaijani audience at the Xth Gabala International Music Festival” - Gut said.
"As an Israeli citizen, I can proudly say that the leadership of Azerbaijan, first of all, President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva demonstrate great respect, reverence and genuine concern for the Jewish community living in Azerbaijan. On the personal orders and support of President Ilham Aliyev, two synagogues and the largest Jewish educational center in the South Caucasus were built. In the near future, the opening of the first Jewish Museum of Azerbaijan, which will be the first Jewish museum in the South Caucasus, is planned. For 2600 years of the history of the Jews living in Azerbaijan, there has never been a single fact of anti-Semitism in this country. We, as Israelis from Azerbaijan, are proud of this factor of tolerance and religious tolerance. Azerbaijan today is pursuing a policy of multiculturalism and tolerance, showing the whole world that the occupation of 20% of the country's territory by a neighboring state does not prevent Azerbaijan from remaining an authentic example of intercivilizational, interreligious dialogue and a place where representatives of all nations and religions live peacefully, "the head of the Israeli NGO ”International projects for society”, the well-known Israeli expert in the field of international relations, Arie Guth, in the information and analytical program "The Day" of the Ninth Israeli TV channel.
