Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz conducted an official visit to Azerbaijan for meetings focused on security and policy issues and aimed at fostering defense cooperation between the countries.
By Erin Viner
Jerusalem’s top defense official was greeted by his Azeri counterpart Colonel General Hasanov Zakir Asgar Oglu with an honor guard ceremony at the Ministry of Defense.
During the one-day trip to the Republic, Minister Gantz held talks with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev.
Minister Gantz also met with the Chief of State Border Service, Colonel General Elchin Guliyev and visited a State Border Service HQ. Azerbaijan is bordered to the south by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
According to a statement from the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMoD), Lt. Gen. (Res.) Gantz used his trip to emphasize “the importance of maintaining strategic relations between the State of Israel and the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as the importance of continuing to work towards regional and global peace and stability.” He also “reflected on the changes in the Middle East region following the signing of the Abraham Accords and discussed Israel’s developing ties with Turkey and additional countries in the region and the world,” said the statement.
Minister Gantz was accompanied by IMoD Director General Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Eshel, Director of the Policy and POL-MIL Bureau Brigadier General (Res.) Dror Shalom, and Military Secretary Brigadier General Yaki Dolf.