Last update - 00:00 16/08/2007
Avigdor Lieberman meets with Azerbaijan pres. on Iran, energy
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Minister of Strategic Threats Avigdor Lieberman on Thursday met in Baku, Azerbaijan with Azeri president Ilham Aliyev as well as a number of senior Azerbaijan officials.
The two reportedly discussed the issue of the Iranian nuclear program and cooperation in fighting terror, as well as the possibility of Azerbaijan establishing full diplomatic relations with Israel for the first time in the Shi'ite country's history.
The meeting comes six days before Aliyev is slated to meet with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during an official state visit by the Iranian leader.
Azerbaijan shares a border with Iran and considered by Iran within its sphere of influence.
During a meeting Lieberman held with Azeri Prime Minister Artur Rasizade, the two discussed cooperation on energy and hi-tech interests.
Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea, and has controlling interests in a large percentage of the sea's oil and gas reserves, estimated to be worth potentially as much as $12 trillion.