Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Tuesday began a three-day visit to ex-Soviet Azerbaijan, a close ally of Turkey, where he is to meet with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and other top officials.

Speaking to Azerbaijan's Lider television during a visit to Baku, Lieberman lashed out at Turkey's frequent criticisms of Israel and slammed it for its recent "anti-Israeli" stance but said the Jewish State would continue efforts to rebuild ties with long-time ally Ankara.

"Every week to sharply condemn Israel, to say Israeli military forces have carried out genocide, to call operations to protect our citizens 'a crime against humanity.'... This sharp anti-Israeli line cannot be repeated every week," he said in remarks translated into Azerbaijani.

"For 10 years we have supported very close and friendly relations with Turkey. The recent changes in Turkey's foreign policy concepts were unexpected to us and not entirely clear. We are doing everything we can in order to preserve relations at their previous, very trustful level and to maintain close cooperation in all areas," he added.

"We hope that Turkey from its side will make certain amendments to its foreign policy."

-AFP/NOW Lebanon