DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
October 5, 2007 Friday

TOGETHER WITH TURKEY, NATO, AND GUAM;
Draft military doctrine of Azerbaijan does not even mention the
Commonwealth

by Jasur Mamedov

CENTRAL THESES OF THE DRAFT MILITARY DOCTRINE OF AZERBAIJAN; Central
theses off the draft Military Doctrine of Azerbaijan.

The document which President Ilham Aliyev endorsed the National
Security Concept this May included the order to the appropriate
structures to draw the Military Doctrine. Central theses of this
future document are known now, courtesy of the Doctrine Military
Research Center that shared the scoop with Voyenno-Promyshlenny
Kurier.

Defensive as it is by nature, the Military Doctrine of Azerbaijan
nevertheless stands for readiness to fight for the sake of national
interests and allies. No foreign state is branded as an enemy in the
document. What countries promote the policies that jeopardize
military security of Azerbaijan are branded as hostile.

The doctrine will consist of two parts. "Military Political
Principles" defines and estimates the military-political situation in
the region. The document emphasizes that the development and
prospects of the existing military-political situation are
characterized by "sophisticated means, forms, and methods of combat
struggle".

List of direct threats to the military security of Azerbaijan include
regional wars, the appearance of regional centers of power and their
strengthening, the deterioration of ethnic and religious extremism,
the activization of separatism, the spread of local wars and armed
conflicts, the regional arms race, the proliferation of nuclear and
other weapons of mass destruction, and the worsening of information
wars.

The document emphasizes that the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani
territories is the worst threat to Azerbaijan itself and regional
security. Territorial claims to Azerbaijan, meddling in domestic
affairs of the country, attempts to ignore interests of Azerbaijan in
coping with international security problems, existence of conflicts
near the borders of Azerbaijan and its allies are listed by the
document as principal external threats to Azerbaijan. Baku also
intends to put on the same list the establishment of army groups
capable of ruining the regional parity, the expansion of military
blocs and alliances that may jeopardize the security of Azerbaijan,
armed aggression, information wars waged to damage the military
security of the country, encroachment on the rights and legitimate
interests of citizens of Azerbaijan abroad, and (of course)
international terrorism.

The list of internal threats on the other hand includes attempts to
topple the constitutional regime by violence; efforts on the part of
extremist, religious, separatist, and terrorist organizations to
disrupt domestic stability in Azerbaijan; any activity aimed to
paralyze the state and its power structures; attacks on economic and
military sites and objects of the national information
infrastructure; the establishment of illegal armed formations;
illegal proliferation on the territory of the country of weapons,
munitions, high explosives, and other means that may be used in
terrorist acts; organized crime; terrorism; smuggling; and other
unlawful activities.

Authors of the draft Military Doctrine believe that the military
security of Azerbaijan is the first priority the state must
concentrate on and that neutralization of military threats to
Azerbaijan will facilitate the military security of the state. The
maintenance of military security is viewed from the standpoint of
developing a democratic rule-of-law state, promotion of socioeconomic
reforms, furtherance of principles of equal international cooperation
based on the policy of neighborliness and mutual benefits.

Some provisions of the document point out that Azerbaijan promotes
its defense policy together with Turkey, furthers military
cooperation with Turkey, and attaches unparalleled importance to the
collective security within the framework of NATO and GUAM. Any
country whose policy does not encroach on the national interests of
Azerbaijan may become its partner. The document emphasizes the
importance of integrating into Euro-Atlantic structures in the name
of military security. No mention is ever made of the Commonwealth.

The document allows for war preparations on the part of Azerbaijan
whenever it decides that an armed aggression against it may launched.
National economy or its individual sectors and enterprises may be put
on a war footing in this event. Azerbaijan in the meantime is
expected to do whatever it takes to prevent other countries from
siding up with the aggressor.

The draft Military Doctrine emphasizes that the national military
organization includes the Armed Forces, other troops, military
formations, industrial sites and research complexes involved in
military security programs. Military organization of the state should
develop in the manner best suited to promote the national interests
and military security of Azerbaijan. Moreover, the adoption of NATO
standards in the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan is proclaimed as a means
of furthering military security and its efficiency.

The Azerbaijan Armed Forces are mostly staffed with conscripts. The
transition to contract service is planned for the near future. To
accomplish that, Azerbaijan is expected to improve the socioeconomic
situation in the country, improve the financial standing of the
military, and (what counts) make Armenian territorial aggression
against Azerbaijan history. The document proceeds to announce that
the nature of aggression against military security calls for the
establishment of mobile forces and strategic resources.

The introduction of democratic control over the army and law
enforcement agencies and the advancement of military-political
partnership with NATO and the European Union are regarded as elements
of military security.

The maintenance of military security in the time of peace comes down
to the evaluation of potential aggressions, the facilitation of
reforms in the Armed Forces, the transition to contract service, and
the modernization of military hardware. The draft Military Doctrine
even proceeds to call military hardware repairs and modernization,
the strengthening of military discipline, and the improvement of
information security of the Armed Forces are priorities with the
Azerbaijani state. The document emphasizes the necessity of the state
policy that will up the prestige of military service.

The document appraises the General Staff of the Azerbaijani Armed
Forces as the principal body that runs the Armed Forces. Other
documents are to be drawn for the introduction of the strategic and
tactical plans of cooperation between the branches of the military.

Part Two, "Military Strategic Principles" reiterates Azerbaijan’s
right to deploy the Armed Forces and other troops when it is
attacked. As a matter of fact, all of that may be deployed against
anti-constitution actions domestically. Emphasizing the importance of
the national military-industrial complex, the draft Military Doctrine
calls for the lowering of dependance on foreign countries for weapons
and military hardware.

The document points out that deployment of "non-regional" forces on
the territory of Azerbaijan, including the Caspian Sea, is
undesirable.

Source: Voyenno-Promyshlenny Kurier, No 37, September 26 – October 2,
2007, p. 1

Translated by A. Ignatkin