IN NATO CIRCLE…
by S. Rzayev, N. Aliyev
Translated by A. Ignatkin

Source: Ekho (Baku), November 25, 2006, EV
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
November 29, 2006 Wednesday

AZERBAIJANI EXPERTS CONTEMPLATE THE PROSPECTS OF MEMBERSHIP IN NATO;
The NATO summit in Riga may demand an answer from Baku if it wants
membership in the Alliance or not.

Prominent American media outlets actively discuss the prospect of
membership in NATO of some countries of the former Socialist camp,
Azerbaijan included. Baku is one of the candidates, on a par with
Georgia that does not even conceal its NATO aspirations. Moreover,
the latter was already encouraged to launch the so called Intensified
Dialogue, a last but one step preceding actual membership in the
Alliance. American experts believe that a number of countries including
Azerbaijan will be asked by the forthcoming NATO summit in Riga if
they want membership in the Alliance or not.

It may be added that Azerbaijani experts practically agree with
their American counterparts. On the other hand, nobody in Baku can
say anything definite on the date or conditions of Azerbaijan’s
membership in NATO. "To tell you the truth, I do not know if the so
called well-balanced policy promoted by the Azerbaijani authorities
stipulates membership in the Alliance at this point," said Nasib
Nasibli, Milli Mejlis deputy and member of the permanent Commission
for Parliamentary Contacts and International Affairs. According to
the lawmaker, official Baku constantly emphasizes that "integration
into Euroatlantic structures is what we are after" but "I can’t say
I perceive any actual steps in this direction." Nasibli recalled in
this context the statement he had made on return from Washington in
2003. According to Nasibli, Bush’s Administrations strategic plans
envisaged existence of a group of countries across the ocean that
were supposed to officially apply for NATO membership. Azerbaijan
was one of these countries. "The latest developments around Georgia
and some countries of East Europe, as well as earnest discussion
of Baku as a candidate in America show plainly that this assumption
was correct," Nasibli said. He said that a senior Pentagon official
had asked the question of the Azerbaijani authorities on a visit
to Baku in 2003. "Washington was given unofficial consent then,"
the parliamentarian assumed. Officially, however, no such statement
has ever been made.

Nasibli is convinced that membership in NATO will guarantee Azerbaijan
security. He believes furthermore that nearby Georgia’s membership
in the Alliance is not everything, that Azerbaijan’s membership in
it is needed. "These two neighbors open a way into Central Asia,"
the lawmaker said. Once Georgia and Azerbaijan are in the NATO,
Armenia will remain the only country in the southern part of the
Caucasus. It will also see the light sooner or later and "the circle
will close." Military expert Uzeir Jafarov is of the same frame
of mind.

The latter expects the Alliance to ask Azerbaijan to make up its mind
at the Riga summit. Jafarov pointed out that President Ilham Aliyev
had never said anything definite on the subject on his latest visit
to Brussels. NATO representatives always stressed, he said, that
the willingness should be the country’s own. "It is this willingness
exactly that official Baku hasn’t demonstrated," Jafarov said.

As far as the expert is concerned, NATO leadership would like
a clear answer from official Baku, and preferably positive. It
is common knowledge after all, Jafarov said, that some countries
including members of the OSCE Minsk Group deliberately interfere
to delay resolution of the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh. Jafarov does not doubt that Azerbaijan will make
up its mind in a couple of years, no more, and that it will probably
aspire for membership in the Alliance.

As for Azerbaijan’s integration into NATO, Jafarov emphasized the
necessity to bear in mind two important factors namely Russia and
Iran. "Difficult as it may prove, the decision must be made. We
cannot remain side. As things stand, we have only a vague desire to
shift the army to NATO standards. Little has actually been done,
because there is more to NATO standards and principles than, say,
a different way of marching," Jafarov said.

"Azerbaijan is unforgivably later with making a formal application
for membership," Jafarov said. If membership in the Alliance is not
what Baku is after, then what does it need the individual cooperation
program, participation in seminars, and so on for?

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said yesterday that reorganization
of the Armed Forces in line with NATO standards is currently under
way. Ramiz Melikov, Chief of the Defense Ministry’s Press Service,
claims that the individual cooperation program is under way too. "The
national army will conform to NATO standards once the program has
been implemented," Melikov said.