Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 31
By Anakhanum Khidayatova - Trend:
Azerbaijan has reached today such a level of development, which allows achieving a breakthrough in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through negotiations, Avigdor Lieberman, former Israeli Foreign Minister and leader of "Our Home Israel" party, said in an exclusive interview with Trend Oct. 30.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.
"Israel believes that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be resolved through peaceful negotiations," said Lieberman. "This process always takes a long time. We believe that it will be possible to achieve a breakthrough through negotiations at a level that Azerbaijan has reached."
He said that today the relations between Azerbaijan and Israel are very confidental and strong.
"Much has been done by the both sides during the last six-seven years in order to deepen these relations," said Lieberman. "They include trade-economic relations, very good humanitarian ties, a closer coordination on a number of issues of international politics. We have multilateral, deep and strong relations."
He went on to add that there are several areas that have significant potential for the development of these relations.
"I would mention three areas - agriculture, medicine and high-tech industries," said Lieberman. "Israel is a world leader in these areas, and one can do more in these directions. I hope that the Azerbaijani embassy in Israel will be opened next year. This will also help to deepen the relations."
Referring to the policy of multiculturalism in Azerbaijan, Lieberman said that its success mainly lies in tolerance, recognition of the right of everyone to have their own values, which do not contradict the universal ones.
"Representatives of different nationalities, religions were always present here," said the leader of the Israeli party. "Everyone always lived in peace, and there have never been any excesses. We have witnessed this tolerance today."
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