Peter Lyukimson, Israel. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
According to witnesses, Aliyev and Peres met like old friends and their talk was very warm, sincere and friendly. “We would like to express gratitude to Azerbaijan for friendship and understanding of our position; believe me we appreciate our friends. The true friendship is a ground for our extending cooperation in economics, defense sphere, science, and so on,” Shimon Peres said. Ilham Aliyev is satisfied with development of the Israeli-Azerbaijani relations: “Relations between our nations have a long and positive history, and we continue the history!” Israeli political scientists believe that the fact that Israeli President firstly met Ilham Aliyev means importance of relations with Azerbaijan for Israel, and the importance grew in Davos.
In Davos, Israel is represented by President Peres, Premier Netanyahu, the Minister of Justice Livni, and the head of the State Bank of the country Flug. Each of them will present a report at the Forum and conduct a series of meetings.
However, all members of the Israeli delegation understand that the main hero of the Forum is Iranian President Hassan Rouhani who came to Davos as a winner. One of the key events is a meeting between Rouhani and the US Secretary of State John Kerry, and the fact concerns Israel. That is why the support by progressive Islamic states, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, is important for Israel.
At the same time meetings between Shimon Peres and Ilham Aliyev in Davos are a good tradition and don’t depend on a political situation. Cooperation between the countries is growing and stepping at a new level.
