Special to WorldTribune.com

MOSCOW — Israel has selected Azerbaijan as a leading offshore energy
contractor.

Azerbaijan, which signed a $1.6 billion defense project with the Jewish
state, has been deemed Israel’s leading strategic partner in Central Asia.

Officials said the April 2012 visit by Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor
Lieberman promoted energy and military cooperation.

Officials said the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu wants the state-owned State Oil Company of Azerbaijan to drill for
crude oil and natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean. They said SOCAR’s
subsidiary, Caspian Drilling Co., has been awarded a stake in Israel’s only
viable oil field, called Med Ashdod.

“This deal will be formalized over the next few months,” an official
said.

  Azerbaijan’s State Oil Company, Benjamin Netanyahu, Caspian Drilling Co., Israel partners with Azerbaijan for drilling in Mediterranean, Med Ashod oil field