US MILITARY COOPERATION WITH AZERBAIJAN NOT AGAINST THIRD COUNTRIES – DIPLOMAT
Ayna, Azerbaijan
Nov 25 2006
The USA’s Caspian Security Programme does not prevent Azerbaijan
from forging other military alliances, a US embassy official in Baku
has said. The programme’s name has been changed from Caspian Guard
to Caspian Security to dispel the misconception that the programme
envisages US troops serving in Azerbaijan, Jonathan Henick told Ayna
newspaper’s military supplement. He said that the programme aims to
help Azerbaijan improve its border security. Improving Azerbaijan’s
defences is also the aim of the radar stations in Xizi and Astara
districts, built by the USA and given to Azerbaijan, Henick said. He
stressed that the radar stations were not targeted against third
countries. The following are excerpts from C. Mammadov’s interview
with Jonathan Henick published on Azerbaijani newspaper Ayna’s
website on 25 Nov 06 and headlined "`Our programme is not against
Casfor.’ US embassy representative says cooperation with Azerbaijan
very important in creating regional stability"; subheadings have been
inserted editorially:
A representative of the US embassy believes that cooperation with
Azerbaijan is very important for the maintenance of stability in
the region.
[Passage omitted: brief biography of Jonathan Henick]
Ayna-Army’s latest interviewee is the head of the public relations
department at the US embassy in Azerbaijan, Jonathan Henick. We tried
to shed light on current military-political cooperation between the
USA and Azerbaijan and similar issues.
[Correspondent] Mr Henick, what is your assessment of the level
of cooperation today in the military and security sphere between
Azerbaijan and the USA?
[Henick] I think that we have excellent relations both in the security
and military spheres. As confirmation I can cite the example of the
recent visit to Azerbaijan of a group led by Sgt-Maj Iuniasolua Savusa.
[Passage omitted: on developing the rank of sergeant-major in the
Azerbaijani army]
Before that Gen William Ward came to Azerbaijan. Ward is a four-star
general and this is a very high rank in the army. His visit also
concerned US-Azerbaijani military cooperation.
Next month high-level talks will take place in Baku between the USA and
Azerbaijan within the framework of bilateral military cooperation. A
delegation is due to come to Azerbaijan from Washington to take part
in the talks. I can tell you that these talks are held in turn in
Baku and Washington. During these talks we will look into the full
range of our current cooperation in the military sphere.
US-built radar stations in Azerbaijan not targeted against any country
[Correspondent] Two radar stations are known to have been built in
Azerbaijan’s Xizi and Astara districts with US support. It is also
known that the start-up of these stations caused some displeasure in
Russia and Iran. Overall, at what stage is the work being done within
the framework of Caspian Guard?
[Henick] I am very happy to tell you about this issue. First I would
like to draw to your attention the fact that the programme’s name
has recently been changed. The programme is now called the Caspian
Security Programme. When some people heard the name Caspian Guard they
thought that American soldiers would take direct part in defending
the Caspian littoral states. But this is in fact not the case. This
is the reason for the change in the programme’s name.
As for the radar stations, they belong to Azerbaijan. We set them up
and handed them over to Azerbaijan. It seems to me that it would be
very beneficial for the press or representatives of Russia and Iran
to come and see the radar stations for themselves. I think that if
they saw the radar stations close up, the objectives and functions
of the stations would be perfectly clear to them.
It might be asked why the US government has helped Azerbaijan in this
way. I can tell you that construction of these radar stations was done
in the first place within the framework of Azerbaijan’s individual
partnership action plan [IPAP] with NATO. One of its aims is that
Azerbaijan should guard its own borders. We think that today there is
a danger in the Caspian of illegal trade in arms and narcotics and
at the same time of illegal trafficking in people. We consider that
at present monitoring and preventing this kind of phenomenon is not
only in the interests of Azerbaijan but also of the US government.
I would like to note that these radars have not been directed against
any second or third country. These radars are being used as part of
the IPAP programme. And Azerbaijan is using its own capacities as well.
[Correspondent] The Russian press say that the radars were built
mainly with the aim of monitoring shipments of nuclear components from
Russia to Iran. Do you think it is possible that nuclear components
are being shipped from Russia to Iran via the Caspian?
[Henick] It is not a matter of goods being shipped illegally just
from Russia to Iran. That kind of shipment can use different routes –
for example, from Iran, in the opposite direction, to Russia, from
Turkmenistan to other republics. The US government’s aim is not
to monitor any route in particular. Our overall aim is to improve
Azerbaijan’s monitoring capacity.
Concerning Iran’s nuclear programme, I can tell you that the enrichment
of uranium in this country is creating a big danger. The international
community’s main aim today is to stop this process.
Caspian Security Programme aims to improve Azerbaijan’s defences
[Correspondent] Generally, what’s the main point of the Caspian
Security Programme?
[Henick] It seems to me that the main point of the programme is not
properly understood at present. The Caspian Security Programme does
not envisage military forces. To put it simply, this is the name
of a number of programmes. This programme is targeted at protecting
Azerbaijan’s borders and Caspian coast. The main aim of setting up the
radar stations and giving them to the Azerbaijani side, of military
exercises and of giving ships to the Azerbaijani navy is to increase
Azerbaijan’s capacity to protect on a higher level its own coast line,
its own borders. The Caspian Security Programme does not envisage
US soldiers serving in Azerbaijan. There is no provision for this in
the programme. At the same time, the programme does not oppose other
initiatives or the implementation of other programmes.
The new Caspian Security Programme will not prevent Azerbaijan from
carrying out military programmes or any other initiatives that it
may wish to do with any other country.
[Correspondent] It is known that Russia would like to create a united
Casfor military alliance made up of the armed forces of the Caspian
littoral states. So far only Russia and Iran of the regional states
have agreed on this. Do you think that such an alliance is necessary?
[Henick] I cannot comment on this, because I do not have detailed
information about it. But I would like to note once more that there
is no clause or other provision in our programme that opposes other
initiatives or any other programmes. Azerbaijan must make its own
choice.
[Correspondent] Recently Russia’s [military and defence weekly]
Voyenno-Promyshlennyy Kuryer published a report that the USA is
preparing to hold an international Caspian summit next year.
According to the report, the aim of the summit is to resolve the legal
status of the Caspian and to deprive the Caspian of the status of a
sea in Russia’s zone of influence. How accurate is this information?
[Henick] I have absolutely no information about this. I think that
the legal status of the Caspian is an issue for the Caspian littoral
states and that they must resolve this issue between themselves.
[Correspondent] How does the USA assess Azerbaijan’s position today
on Iran’s nuclear programme?
[Henick] Iran’s nuclear programme is an international problem. This
is at present being discussed by the UN Security Council. Of
course Azerbaijan does not take part in these discussions as it is
not one of the participating countries. The main discussions are
being conducted by the permanent members of the Security Council
plus Germany and Iran and the IAEA as well. Therefore, we have no
complaints or dissatisfaction at all with Azerbaijan’s position
on this issue. Lengthy discussions on this topic are being held at
present. We must wait to see what comes out of this and what decision
the Security Council will take. This is a very important issue.
Azerbaijan making good progress in improving army standards
[Correspondent] The USA is today supporting the Azerbaijani armed
forces in meeting NATO standards. Do you think that the Azerbaijani
government is making effective use of this military assistance from
the USA?
[Henick] This is a lengthy programme and has not yet finished. The
aim of a range of our programmes is to bring Azerbaijan’s armed forces
up to NATO standards.
Azerbaijan is today fulfilling a very positive peacekeeping mission
in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. I think that the existing effective
cooperation between the USA and Azerbaijan has given very great
assistance in bringing the country’s army to international standards.
We have done important work with the Azerbaijani peacekeeping
battalion. The Non-Commissioned Officers programme is one part of
this overall programme. Of course, other work is being done too. We
are sure that these are positive elements of the overall programme.
We believe that Azerbaijan has made very good progress. We hope that
this progress will continue.
USA does not pay Azerbaijani peacekeepers
[Correspondent] Information has circulated recently about the
misappropriation of the wages of Azerbaijani peacekeepers serving in
Iraq. A representative of the Ministry of Defence has said that the
wages of our soldiers serving in Iraq are paid by the American side.
Is this right?
[Henick] This is not correct. The USA does not directly pay the
Azerbaijani peacekeepers in Iraq. On the basis of American law we do
not pay soldiers in the peacekeeping corps directly. This is an issue
between the soldiers serving in Iraq and their military leadership.
That is to say, the question of wages is solved between the Azerbaijani
peacekeepers and their Azerbaijani leadership. I am sure that close
cooperation will continue between the Azerbaijani peacekeepers and
the US military.
[Correspondent] Are the wages of the Azerbaijani peacekeepers in Iraq
paid from the US budget?
[Henick] The Azerbaijani government itself bears responsibility
for paying wages. Generally, funds are not given from the US
government side. Peacekeepers are financed by their countries. But
the US government supports and assists peacekeepers with transport,
foodstuffs and similar issues.
[Correspondent] This might be an opportune moment to clarify
something. Azerbaijani society does not know how much our peacekeepers
there are paid. The Ministry of Defence has put a ban on this as though
it is a "military secret". Might you have any information about this?
[Henick] The US government does not know what any country pays its
peacekeepers, including Azerbaijan. I don’t know either. Countries
take their own decisions on this.
[Correspondent] Azerbaijan’s national security concept and military
doctrine have not been adopted yet. Many people link this with official
Baku’s difficulty in choosing "a friend". Who do you think Baku is
close to today, the USA, the European Union or Russia?
[Henick] I am sure that Azerbaijan does not have to choose a friend
in isolation. Azerbaijan is conducting a very careful policy and has
very good relations with its neighbours, with the European countries
and with the USA. We know that Azerbaijan has friendly relations with
European countries and the USA. I think that these relations should
exist and be extended with other countries too.
Azerbaijan’s location of key importance for USA
[Correspondent] What is Azerbaijan’s place in the USA’s
military-political strategy?
[Henick] Azerbaijan is a very important partner for us from both
the security and military points of view. Azerbaijan’s geographical
location is one of the main reasons for this. Numerous flights pass
through Azerbaijan’s air space between Europe and Afghanistan and
between the USA and Afghanistan. In fact Azerbaijan’s permission is
very important for us in carrying out operations in Afghanistan.
At the same time cooperation with Azerbaijan is very important
in creating stability in the region. It is very important to have
stability in Azerbaijan from the geographical point of view, since
Azerbaijan is located between Russia and Iran, Europe and Asia. This
need for stability comes even further to the fore in discussions on
energy issues. I can tell you that security issues are one of the
USA’s priorities with regard to Azerbaijan.
[Correspondent] Do you think Azerbaijan or Armenia is more important
in terms of geography for the USA?
[Henick] I work in Azerbaijan. I advise you to approach my colleague
in the US embassy in Armenia on these issues.
Russian radar station not a problem for Azerbaijan’s Euro-Atlantic
integration
[Correspondent] Russia is known to have just one military facility in
Azerbaijan, the Qabala radar station. Do you think that the presence of
this facility could create a problem in Azerbaijan’s future integration
in the Euro-Atlantic space?
[Henick] I do not think that this will create any obstacle to
Azerbaijan’s integration in the Euro-Atlantic space. At the same time
this is a matter for Russia and Azerbaijan.
Democracy and religious freedom can combat extremism
[Correspondent] Commentators say that religious tendencies have
increased in Azerbaijan recently. Do you think that there is a danger
of religious extremism in the country in future?
[Henick] It seems to me that there is such a danger in different
places in the world. Good cooperation between countries is the most
important way to prevent this. This cooperation must take place in
different areas at the same time military, finance, diplomacy and
territorial protection.
Strengthening democracy is another way to prevent extremism. Freedom
for sects and religions, people expressing their views freely can
also prevent this.
At the same time it is important to create strong institutions to
prevent extremism. The presence of a trustworthy parliament, free
and transparent elections can destroy extremism. Should the opposite
be the case, a dangerous situation can emerge: people think and see
that the government does not listen to their voice, does not respond
to them. Then they turn to extremism.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress