Israel seeks to enhance economic cooperation with Azerbaijan

By Abdel Raouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) – A high-ranking Israeli delegation headed by Foreign Minister Eli Cohen is set to start an official visit to Azerbaijan on Tuesday for talks on enhancing cooperation in the fields of economy, security, energy and innovation.

“I am leaving today for an important political visit in order to continue to build, together with our good friends in Baku, a united and strong front against our common challenges and to deepen our cooperation,” Cohen said in statements cited by Israeli Channel 14.

The top diplomat is leading a large economic delegation that includes 20 companies in the fields of cybersecurity, homeland security, water management and agriculture, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

"Cohen will lead a large economic delegation in order to promote the developing trade between Israel and Azerbaijan," the ministry said.

The Israeli minister described Azerbaijan as "the Shia country that enjoys a strategic location in the South Caucasus, and one of the world's major countries in the field of energy."

Cohen is expected to meet with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov to discuss deepening bilateral strategic relations.

Cohen's visit to Azerbaijan comes weeks after the opening of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Israel and the appointment of a permanent ambassador to Tel Aviv.

Israel and Azerbaijan have had relations for 30 years, and there has been an Israeli embassy in Baku since 1993.

* Ikram Kouachi contributed to this report