"RIGHT OF CHOICE": FOREIGN POLICY STRATEGY BASED ON NATIONAL INTERESTS
Democratic Azerbaijan
Nov 15 2006
The foreign policy laid down by the national leader Heydar Aliyev
is continued with confidence by President Ilham Aliyev, enriching it
with new specifities
The power of every independent state is measured by its successes
in the field of foreign policy. Just countries upholding civilized
criteria, International law norms and principles can protect their
diplomatic interests with dignity and strive for crucial successes.
For the last 13 years the Azerbaijan Republic has been advancing with
confidence to the purposes of the important criteria. The realities
of the last 13 years allow to affirm that in all international and
regional issues official Baku is guided by the general principles
and prefers to establish equal relations with all states, and is
against "double standards". Azerbaijan, advancing with confidence
on the path to building-up of democratic, lawful and secular state,
is based on progressive achievements in the field of foreign policy,
not allowing restrictions in any fields of society.
For the first years of independent Azerbaijan, incompetent politicians
turned out to be in power tried to set out a foreign policy guided
by non-real and obscure "principles" that led not only to regional
but also to international isolation of the country.
Instable political situation, anarchy, chaos and arbitrariness
prevailing in the country that time caused the information blockade and
unjust sanctions against Azerbaijan. When the Armenian aggression was
particularly wide-spread, no actions at a diplomatic level considering
bringing to the notice of international community the true situation
in the country were taken.
After return to power in 1993 the national leader Heydar Aliyev got a
chance to determine priorities of the country’s foreign policy based on
national interests. The great leader’s rich experience in government
and professional diplomatic skills allowed to eliminate uncertainty
in the country’s foreign policy, to regulate normal relations with
the major powers, and to develop dynamic bilateral and multilateral
relations. That time the Head of State faced with the necessity to
overcome double standards towards Azerbaijan; in addition, there
was clearly a need to convince the world in capabilities of our
state to step forth from independent positions in all issues. The
first Constitution of the independent Azerbaijan, developed under
the leadership of the great leader and adopted on November 12,
1995 by national elections, embodied the conceptual foundations,
purposes and principles of state foreign policy. Article 10 of the
Constitution says that Azerbaijan, guided by the International law
principles in accordance with the national interests, establishes
relations with other countries.
The balanced foreign policy laid by the national leader Heydar Aliyev
not only initiated the strategic concept designed for the conquest
of perspective purposes but also was directed to the strengthening
of Azerbaijan’s prestige and position on the international scene and
the solution of the national problems.
The national leader Heydar Aliyev’s foreign policy determined
Azerbaijan’s special place in the modern world, and laid the foundation
of new-quality international relations. Under the direction of
the great leader Azerbaijan’s foreign policy, relations with the
major powers and international organizations met completely the
national interests, and developed in the line of ascent, taking into
consideration the political perspectives.
The impressive successes of President Ilham Aliyev, the worthy
successor of Heydar Aliyev’s policy line are determined by his
devotion to permanent priorities and a single strategy of foreign
policy, and also by undoubted diplomatic talent. The Head of State
Ilham Aliyev makes unbelievable efforts to consolidate Azerbaijan’s
position in international organizations, to develop relations and
win-win relationship with the major actors worldwide. Against the
background of complicated and contradictory worldwide developments,
Ilham Aliyev has managed to strengthen more the political independence
and national security of our Republic.
Faced with the Armenian aggression Azerbaijan has determined a
priority of its foreign policy doctrine – representation in all
prestige international and regional organizations. The representation
in the organizations creates perfect opportunities for the prevention
of Armenian occupation and highlighting the true purposes of Armenian
policy. From this standpoint it is necessary to underline the special
role of the Council of Europe. The parliamentary delegation of our
country attending the sessions of the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe since January 2001, from the very beginning
represented Azerbaijan’s interests with dignity and this activity was
positive. Azerbaijani MPs’ activity was not restricted just within the
provision of the Republic’s prestige growth on the international scene
but also pursued a purpose to expose Armenian aggressive policy and
to oppose the Armenian false propaganda. As consequence of the done
activity, the PACE session which was held in January 2005, adopted
the Resolution 1416 which recognizes Armenia the state-aggressor
that illegally occupied Azerbaijani lands. PACE’s Resolution 1416
says that Azerbaijani territories are occupied by the Armenian armed
forces, the Nagorno-Garabagh region is still under the control of
separatist forces, and highlights to comply with United Nations
Security Council Resolutions 822 (1993), 853 (1993), 874 (1993) and
884 (1993), in particular by refraining from any armed hostilities
and by withdrawing military forces from all occupied territories of
Azerbaijan. The requirements were also embodied in the Recommendation
1690 adopted by the PACE last year. Visiting the region in March 2005
the OSCE mission for studying facts in the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan confirmed the fact of Armenians’ mass illegal settlement
in the lands that was reflected in the OSCE final report.
For the last 10 years Azerbaijan has been developing relations not
only with the Council of Europe but also with the United Nations,
the European Union, OSCE, NATO, CIS, OIC, GUAM, the Organization for
Black Sea Economic Cooperation, International Monetary Fund, etc. The
co-operation with the organizations contributes to more elevation
of Azerbaijan’s prestige and realization of various international
projects. The Head of State Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Brussels this
May opened a new phase in relations of Azerbaijan with EU and NATO.
The strengthening of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy, realization of
an active and flexible policy, consolidation of Azerbaijanis living
abroad in a single organized force, creation of lobby and diasporas
are on the focus of President Ilham Aliyev’s activity for the last
three years. The recruitment and structural transformations in the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the opening of new diplomatic missions
in a number of countries can prove it.
At present Azerbaijan has established diplomatic relations almost
with 160 countries worldwide. Henceforth the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs recruits by test in order to provide diplomatic service
with the worthy personnel. That demonstrates Azerbaijan’s efficient
diplomatic activity, strengthening of its prestige and position,
and efficient use of diplomatic tools in foreign policy.
The enhancement of international cooperation is very important
for Azerbaijan aiming to propagandize social and economic progress
in the world. Azerbaijan’s rich natural resources, unique transit
potentialities connecting the East with the West, involvement in global
projects as the main party, and also a balanced foreign policy create
the good prerequisites for broadening relations with the major powers
worldwide. The successful realization of global economic projects is
urgent for Azerbaijan within the political end. At the meeting with
national diplomats Ilham Aliyev informed: "Today Azerbaijan pursues an
independent policy and this is the outstanding achievement. I.e. this
field has good chances that we have to use efficiently. Azerbaijan’s
growing economic potential, progress in foreign policy, and strategic
co-operation with the major powers open magnificent perspectives. We
use and them shall use efficiently further. The embassies that should
bring to the notice of international community the truth of Azerbaijan
play a great role in that."
The embassies operating in different countries are obliged
to propagandize and to develop abroad the Azerbaijani language,
culture, art, progressive traditions and history of our nation. These
criteria as the fundamental political and ideological principles and
cultural wealth of every nation should be permanently at the centre
of attention of our diplomats. They are regarded as a cornerstone for
the provision of cultural-ethics unity of our compatriots abroad. For
that foreign embassies and diaspora organizations should demonstrate
high efficiency and influence public and political life of their
residence-country. Just in this case it is possible to overcome the
information blockade and to bring Azerbaijan’s realities to the notice
of international community.
Non-settlement of the Nagorno-Garabagh conflict is a serious source
of potential threat to the Caspian region. It is very important
that equally with governmental and non-governmental organizations
opposing the false propaganda of Armenian lobby, our embassies launch
a counter-offensive. International law norms, including principal
position of a number of authoritative organizations prove the
groundlessness of Armenian claims on Azerbaijani territories. The
United Nations Security Council Resolutions 822, 853 , 874 and 884
respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,
and recognize inviolability of frontiers. The documents demand
particular by refraining from any armed hostilities and by withdrawing
military forces from all occupied territories of Azerbaijan. For the
last years official Baku’s diplomatic efficiency, and consistent and
system activity to bring to the notice of international community the
truth of regional developments are being observed. As a result, a lot
of countries recognize Armenia the state-aggressor, roughly violating
International law norms and principles. It causes the weakening of
official Yerevan’s diplomatic positions. According to I. Aliyev,
the processes progressing in Azerbaijan should be extremely clear for
the international community: "…There are strong Armenian lobbyist
organizations working against Azerbaijan. That’s why our embassies
should show their worth in this point. In the residence-country
they must work not only with different governmental but also with
non-governmental organizations, members of Parliament, mass media
and society. That will enhance our positions more."
The Head of State highlighted that today Azerbaijan is broadening
relations with the leading countries worldwide and neighbors. Talking
of his official visits during the presidency, Ilham Aliyev pointed out
the international community’s interest in cooperation with Azerbaijan
in many fields. "…The visits demonstrate once more that international
organizations have a favorable opinion about Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan
is respected and considered. In region related issues Azerbaijan
turns into a leading country. Win-win bilateral relations meeting
Azerbaijan’s national interests are established not only with neighbor
countries but also with other countries. Of course, we’ll reinforce
our bilateral relations with all countries further."
Undoubtedly, the opinions, recommendations and commissions of President
Ilham Aliyev made at the meeting with the heads of national diplomatic
missions abroad are of great importance and are perceived as a concept
of MFA perspective activity. I. Aliyev expects more systematic and
successive work necessary for strengthening of the achieved foreign
policy successes, because some problems of Azerbaijan require strongly
the activation of efforts, particularly in the field of foreign policy.
Elshad Abdullayev, Chief of the Heydar Aliyev International Center
of Strategic Studies and Forecasting, Doctor of Law, Professor.