Binyamin Ben-Eliezer: "Iran poses threat to not only BTC oil pipeline but entire world community"

As APA informs, Mr. Ben-Eliezer, who was Israeli minister of construction, communications and defence in different periods, said that this is his first visit to the region. Describing Azerbaijan and Israel as small countries with few population, the Israeli Minister said both states are suffering the same problem.

Reporting that he had talks with President Ilham Aliyev, Emergencies Minister Kamaladdin Heydarov, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, SOCAR president Rovnag Abdullayev, Economic Development Minister Heydar Babayev, Industry and Energy Minister Natig Aliyev, Mr. Ben-Eliezer expressed confidence that there exists a potential for strategic cooperation between Israel and Azerbaijan besides the cooperation in energy field.

"The delivery of Azerbaijani oil to the Ceyhan port represents cooperation not only in oil, we also think of purchasing gas from Azerbaijan. My visit will promote expansion of cooperation in energy field," the Israeli Minister said.

Mr.Ben-Elizer said the further talks will be held between Israeli businessmen and Azerbaijan's State Oil Company (SOCAR) and long-term contracts will be signed in accordance with the results of the talks.

Responding to the question on Iran's posing threat to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main oil export pipeline, Ben-Eliezer said Iran poses threat to not only the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and Israel but also the entire world community.

"This pipeline serves not only the Azerbaijani people but also three great nations, these states can differentiate threat from business. Once Saddam Hussein was posing a threat to the world community, however, his fate is known to everyone," he underlined.

Stating that the Azerbaijani side shows a keen interest to his proposals, the Israeli Minister commented on the proposal on delivery of the Caspian oil to China and India.

"The Ashkelon-Eylat oil pipeline connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea is ready to deliver Azerbaijan's oil to the Far East-India and China. We'll purchase as much oil as Azerbaijan could sell. Besides, Israel intends to purchase Azerbaijan’s gas," Ben-Eliezer said.