[IsraelTimes] Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar meets with Azerbaijan’s Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov in Jerusalem, where the two discuss strengthening strategic economic and energy ties, says Sa’ar’s office.
Earlier in the day, Jabbarov signed an agreement giving the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan exploration rights to joint natural gas exploration in Israel’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the Mediterranean Sea.
Azerbaijan, a majority Muslim country that borders Iran, is an important security and energy ally for Israel.
Jabbarov also met with President Isaac Herzog, Economy Minister Nir Barkat and Energy Minister Eli Cohen.
According to Sa’ar, the Joint Economic Commission between the two allies will soon convene, headed on the Israeli side by Ze’ev Elkin, a minister within the Finance Ministry.
Israel, Azerbaijan, and the US have been working to strengthen trilateral ties, and to connect Baku to Abraham Accords initiatives. Last week, US special envoy Steve Witkoff flew from Moscow to Baku and met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in a visit arranged by Israel, The Times of Israel has learned.
Azerbaijan has also served as a quiet mediator between Israel and Turkey. Aliyev’s adviser Hikmet Hajiyev was in Israel last month to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about Turkey and Syria, and flew from Israel to Turkey. 
|
