Baku highlights Azerbaijani-Israel unique relations
By Nigar Orujova
Israel Ambassador to Azerbaijan highlighted the specific and unique relationship that exists between Azerbaijan and Israel in different spheres.
Rafael Harpaz made the remarks at the Azerbaijan-Israel B2B forum in Baku on December 4.
Held within the 19th Azerbaijan International Telecommunications and Information Technologies Exhibition Bakutel 2013, the forum was organized by Azerbaijan's Communication and Information Technologies Ministry and Israel-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
In addition to Harpaz, the forum was attended by Deputy Minister of Communication and IT Elmir Valizadeh, chairman of Israel-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Alex Kaplun, and representatives of Azerbaijan and Israel's leading technological companies.
Harpaz said Israel is interested in developing bilateral cooperation, adding that "BakuTel" and Azerbaijan-Israel "B2B"meeting are of utmost importance to Israel.
"A large delegation from Israel came to Baku and we are looking forward to deepening our relationship in the area of telecommunications. Israeli companies are satisfied by what they have seen here, and there is a great potential to develop existing relations even further. We are going to sign a visa facilitation agreement for diplomatic and service passport holders in the near future," ha said.
"We are also going to sign an agreement on eliminating double taxation and standardization. We are negotiating agreements on pipelines. There will be many visits by Israel officials, and we are looking forward to the next year," Harpaz added.
The increase in the number of tourists both from Azerbaijan to Israel and vice verse was also noted.
Deputy ICT Minister Elmir Velizade spoke about the attention paid to the development of ICT sector in Azerbaijan.
Noting that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Trans-Eurasian Information Super Highway (TASIM) project was signed on the sidelines of the BakuTel-2013, he said it will contribute to strengthening the Azerbaijan-Israel relations even further.
He said Azerbaijan was interested in cooperation with Israel in the field of cybersecurity.
Chairman of Israel-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce and Industry briefed the event participants about the activities of the organization. Kaplun spoke about successful cooperation and noted the sale of a unique smart phone "Life Watch", produced in Israel for health diagnostics, in Azerbaijan.
Israeli representatives gave speeches about modern technologies, including cyber protection of corporate networks, optimization and analysis of Internet traffic networks, protecting websites against hacker attacks, and providing fast Internet for remote areas, and medical monitoring as part of mobile smart phones.
Azerbaijani companies spoke about ICT projects and making investments in these spheres.