NETANYAHU MEETS WITH PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN IN BAKU

ISRAEL LINE
FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 1997

  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Azerbaijani President Heydar
Aliyev in the wee hours this morning, stopping over in the capital of Baku
on his way back from the Far East, Israel Radio, KOL YISRAEL, reported.
  The two men reportedly discussed the threats posed by Iran, and the
possibility of Israeli-Azerbaijani intelligence cooperation.
  The visit makes Netanyahu the first world leader ever to visit
Azerbaijan's presidential palace, on the Caspian Sea. Israel already has an
embassy in the capital of the Shiite country; the Prime Minister asked
Aliyev to open one in Israel.
  Netanyahu said Israel is looking forward to its developing friendship with
Azerbaijan. Aliyev told the Prime Minister that Jews had been living in the
country for quite some time, and that there had never been anti-Semitism there.
  Aliyev also said he would accept Netanyahu's invitation to pay an official
visit to Israel, and invited Netanyahu to return to Baku for a longer stay.






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