The word 'integration', which has became fashionable in recent years, from a word with a uniquely positive connotation has turned into a cliche, and often with a negative shade. Where is the line between integration and dependence? What can the fruits of integration with those or other interstate associations bring?
By 2008, the EU had developed the 'Eastern Partnership' program, designed to develop the relations between the EU and six countries of the former Soviet Union – Ukraine, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and Belarus – on the basis of common requirements. But at the last summit it was stated that the approaches to each country will be different.
Experts were not the first to notice a very balanced and at times cool attitude to the European integration policy on the part of the Baku government. Azerbaijan has always been quite indifferent to the Eastern Partnership, advocating the 'participatory' principle and showing the main interest in the issues of economy, energy, science and education, as well as visa liberalization.
Recently, however, the criticism that has periodically been voiced from European structures against Azerbaijan has become so partisan and biased that in Baku the authorities are thinking about the need to change the format of cooperation with Brussels.
Yesterday, President Ilham Aliyev said that during the next few months Baku will prepare a new concept of cooperation with the EU. And in this respect important steps have already been taken, Azerbaijan has not joined the Association Agreement with the European Union, saying that it does not meet their own interests. "It simply provides a mechanism that looked like no more like bilateral, but one-sided co-operation," and that the agreement was like a sheet of instructions. For us, of course, it is not suitable, since Azerbaijan is establishing equal relations with all countries, all international organizations. We continue to work on the basis of this principle ... and the national interests of Azerbaijan must be ensured to the maximum extent, and our values are, of course, for us, in the most important place,‘’ Aliyev said.
Baku proceeds from the fact that there is a need to talk more about spiritual values in the modern world, as the crisis experienced by the Middle East, Europe and the CIS is happening because of a lack of these values. Armenia's economy is in the doldrums, there is an ongoing crisis in Ukraine and Greece. "We see that some European countries, especially countries that want to achieve for themselves a special place, just humiliated Greece. Humiliated the people, the state,’’ Ilham Aliyev said. ‘’Sometimes I hear from government officials, MPs, public figures, that we should integrate into Europe. Think first when you talk about it! In what form will you integrate? Do you need this integration or not? In what capacity does Azerbaijan want to take it? As a secondary member, associate member or as a country?"
The President noted that Azerbaijan joined the Council of Europe when the situation in Europe itself was different, and if the question of accession was in today's realities, Baku would refuse to accede to it. "How long will Azerbaijan be offended? How much can you afford to humiliate us? Our patience is over. We are perfectly able to live without the Council of Europe, and had lived until 2001. While the Civil War took place in Azerbaijan, the Armenian occupation, the political crisis, the economic downturn. We survived, we did not die," Ilham Aliyev said.
Baku does not hide the fact that by joining the Council of Europe it hoped for its support in resolving the Karabakh problem. "But what we see is injustice, double standards. We are not integrable. Where we are integrated, that is enough. If necessary, we'll join another union, but as an equal partner, as a decent country," the president said.
It is obvious that Azerbaijan is interesting for other countries and associations as an equal partner. Against the backdrop of the global economic crisis, the economy of the country is growing. And in the first six months of this year alone it grew by 5.7%. The non-oil sector showed an increase of 9.2%. Industrial production increased by 4%. Inflation in Azerbaijan is at a level of 3.5%. Incomes of the population, ahead of inflation, increased by 6.2%. Agriculture grew by 7.3%. This is the highest growth rate in recent years.
