ELNUR ASLANOV: GOOD NEIGHBOR BETTER THAN DISTANT RELATIVE
S.Agayeva

Trend News Agency
April 20 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Political Analyses and
Dataware Department Head Elnur Aslanov spoke with Trend News in a
quick interview.

Trend News: During Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s Moscow visit,
Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev expressed his country’s readiness
to fulfill own mandate on settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
and noted necessity to rely on international law and resolutions of
the UN and OSCE. As to you, which role can Russia play in settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

Elnur Aslanov: Russia is one of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and
plays one of key roles in the conflict settlement process. Moreover,
Russia is a considerable regional figure in the South Caucasus and
direct participant of political, economic and even socio-cultural
processes. The Russian president’s position which was expressed at
the meeting with President Ilham Aliyev testifies that the Russian
foreign policy conception bases on understanding of reality and
strategic partnership spirit. As international law and principle
of territorial integrity is a key factor in solving the conflict,
Russia’s position is natural.

As to Russia’s role in the conflict settlement, I can say that this
or other OSCE Minsk Group co-chair’s involvement in the settlement
process is specified by the participant-country. The time and coherence
of steps to liberate the territories occupied by Armenia will show
efficiency of this role. But we believe the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
understand that Azerbaijani territories’ occupation cannot last for
a long time and it is necessary to take active and effective measures.

Q: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly declared that
Azerbaijan sees Russia a friend and strategic partner. What fruits
of political and economic cooperation will bring to Azerbaijan the
strategic relationship with Russia?

A: Azerbaijani-Russian relations have a solid base and are
characterized by balanced and mutually beneficial growth. The trade
turnover between the states is growing, border delimitation problem
are being resolved, new views of already existing relationships and
communication emerge and there are additional areas of cooperation. The
heads of states have established a dense political dialogue. This
relationship is called a strategic partnership. These processes are
the result of a natural historical process, but not imposed by force.

The strategic relations with Russia provide an opportunity for
Azerbaijan to diversify the transportation of hydrocarbons ensuring
its energy security. On the other hand, Russia is a huge market where,
in terms of global economic crisis, Azerbaijan can find customers for
its products. At the political level, the strategic nature of relations
with Russia for Azerbaijan’s foreign policy line provides a mutually
beneficial relationship with the neighboring countries. After all,
a good neighbor is better than distant relative.

On the other hand, since the global economic crisis, the world order is
changing, and the architecture of international relations is in a state
of transformation. It is obvious that in the near future the world
will be multipolar, more regional than global. Azerbaijan should take
into account the realities and to shape its geopolitical priorities
of the potential world centers on the basis of national interests.

Q: What are your expectations from the newly created Azerbaijani Youth
Organization of Russia and how success may be its work in advancing
the interests of the Azerbaijani youth in Russia and in the world?

A: The establishment of AYOR was another milestone in the
revitalization of young Azerbaijanis throughout the world. The
initiative to create a youth organization in Russia, where a
large number of Azerbaijanis live and hundreds of students receive
education, was launched a year and a half ago. During this period
huge work has been done, which has led to an inaugural conference
of AYOR with attendance of over 300 delegates. The potential of
young Azerbaijanis in Russia is very great, and I’m confident that
we will witness successful projects of youth organizations under the
chairmanship of Leila Aliyeva.