Azerbaijan, Baku, Aug. 26 / Trend , U. Sadigova /
Azerbaijan and Israel have chosen the correct direction for the development of their relations, new Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Michael Lavon-Lotem, told Trend on August 26. Michael Lavon-Lotem has presented his credentials at an appointment with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on August 26.
"I satisfied with direction that both countries and both leaders took to develop relations," Lavon-Lotem said. "There is much that we can and we should do and after Israeli President Shimon Peres's official visit to Azerbaijan, I saw this will and desire.I see much more such decisions and much more other areas of cooperation following the meeting of our two presidents".
It would be unwise to make restrictions in the development of potential of the two countries' relations, and this direction will lead both countries to big changes, the ambassador said.
"I can not say that in the couple of month new projects are on the ground, but I see the beginning of it. I see that how companies that were here with Peres came again" the ambassador said.
The ambassador believes regarding importance of the two nations' relations, the Jewish community in Azerbaijan remains an important social factor in the development of the two countries' relations.
"We can cooperate with the Jewish community in term of the commercial and economic relations," the ambassador said. "Using their [Jewish community] knowledge in the country, Israel can approach to Azerbaijan."
As to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Lavon-Lotem said the Israeli president openly supported Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
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