Azerbaijan Opens Embassy in Israel amid Tension with Iran

Iran

March 30th, 6:49am

Tel Aviv - Asharq Al-Awsat

Bayramov and Cohen during a press conference in Jerusalem on Wednesday. (Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov inaugurated Wednesday his country’s embassy in Tel Aviv. Azerbaijan appointed its first ever ambassador to Israel on Wednesday, amid escalating tensions with its large southern neighbor Iran. The step could worsen the trust crisis between Baku and its southern neighbor Tehran. Bayramov arrived Wednesday morning in Tel Aviv and kicked off a series of meetings with politicians and economists. He intends to visit Ramallah to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Bayramov commenced his meetings with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen. Cohen said that they discussed fostering bilateral ties in economy, energy, education, academia, culture, sports, and more. The Israeli FM stated that he intends to come on an official visit to Baku in the coming weeks at the head of an economic delegation. "The opening of the Azeri embassy in Israel is further evidence of the strengthening of relations between our countries. Azerbaijan is a Muslim country, and its strategic location makes the relationship between us of great importance and great potential,” Cohen said. “I agreed with Foreign Minister Bayramov on forming a united front against Iran and strengthening our cooperation in the fields of economy, security, energy, and innovation. I will soon go on a political visit to Baku together with a large economic delegation, which will further deepen the commercial ties between Israel and Azerbaijan," he added. Bayramov stated that there is a joint purpose for both countries to cooperate to reach a strategic partnership that helps achieve regional peace and stability. The Azerbaijani FM noted that Israel provides his country with huge and major aid to maintain its territories' safety and security and to restore parts occupied by Armenia. Bayramov also pointed out an 85% growth in the trade turnover between the two countries in 2022. Bayramov added that 114 Israeli companies operate in Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani oil makes up about 30% of the oil consumed by Israel. Israel and Azerbaijan have had official ties for 30 years, and Israel first opened its embassy in Baku in 1993. Israel was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of Azerbaijan in 1991. Mukhtar Mammadov, the ambassador of Azerbaijan to Israel, presented on Monday his credentials to Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Herzog said that Azerbaijan is the first Shiite country to open an embassy in Israel.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4242536/azerbaijan-opens-embassy-israel-amid-tension-iran