The Israeli Minister for National Infrastructure, Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, has stated that Israel is interested in joining the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey pipeline corridor as a consumer as well as a transit area of energy resources, Trend reports citing Novosti-Gruziya.
Ben-Eliezer made the statement at an energy conference in Haifa with the participation of the Georgian President, Mikhael Saakashvili, who has recently visited Israel on an official visit.
"I have views on a mutually-related infrastructure of gas and oil pipelines, starting in Azerbaijan and running through the territories of Georgia and Turkey, the Mediterranean Sea and ending in Israel," he stressed.
Israel is not only ready for big purchases of energy resources, but also offers its territory as a means of transit of Caspian oil to the Asian markets, RIA Novosti reports.
"Israel could act as a bridge for the oil transportation to the China, India and Japanese markets. This would avoid massive expenses linked with oil deliveries around Africa, the Israeli Minister stated.
"Israel is in line with the world leading energy powers. This can be achieved through its strategic position, on the crossroads of three continents: Asia, Africa and Europe, on the shore of two seas, namely the Mediterranean and Red Sea, the Minister said.
Ben-Eliezer repeatedly commented on the perspectives of energy co-operation with Russia, including the project of Russian gas transportation via Turkey and the Mediterranean.