Baku-Berlin: cooperation course

by Orkhan Sattarov, head of the European Buerau of VK

Hans-Dietrich Genscher, a legendary diplomat and former Foreign Minister of Germany who played an exceptional role in the unification of the Western and Eastern Germanies, arrived in Baku in early June to give a boost to Azerbaijani-German relations.

Baku believes that some German media had an anti-Azerbaijani campaign for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest. The author of this article had meetings with notable German public officials, including former and incumbent high-ranking officials, MPs and publicists. They expressed confidence that a campaign was launched against Azerbaijan by some German media. The mastermind of the campaign is still a question, but the main “suspects” are major economic and political players in Germany and beyond, interested in ruining Azerbaijan’s relations with Germany and the EU as a whole. It casts concerns over the plan of Azerbaijani to provide gas supplies for European markets. A high-ranking Azerbaijani diplomat ironically noted that German and Iranian media did the best job at criticizing Azerbaijan at the upcoming Eurovision. Such was the weird coalition.

The “war” on the media front did not provoke visible tensions between the governments of Azerbaijan and Germany. Moreover, it did not affect the will of the South Caucasus republic to continue cooperation with the European Union. Azerbaijan remains devoted to its strategic priority of supplying European markets with gas, as confirmed at meetings and negotiations in the republic. Eurovision passed, the excitement passed, and so did some aggravators of bilateral relations.

“The EU and Azerbaijan need to determine common interests and build bilateral relations in accordance with them”, was the keynote of meetings in Azerbaijan. German Ambassador to Baku Herbert Quelle is optimistic about the future.

Former German Foreign Minister Genscher is still an authoritative figure in German policy, despite the fact that he is now a private, not state subject. But this figure has direct access to high-ranking officials. His is being listened to and trusted. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has regular meetings with him.

Genscher has brought a positive signal from Berlin to Baku, taking it directly to President Ilham Aliyev. Obviously, this signal was received in Azerbaijan. After successful negotiations in Baku, Genscher is not returning back empty-handed.

“It is not the journalists who decide and determine our relations, but it is us, politicians, when we gather together at such journeys and discuss the accrued issues”, the German delegation kept repeating. Ruprecht Polentz, Chairman of the Foreign Political Committee of Bundestag and an authoritative MP of the ruling coalition, arrived right after Genscher. It seems that Berlin and Baku understand how important Azerbaijan and Europe are for each other. Political dividends of their cooperation are above the confrontation on the information field.