Afterword to President Ilham Aliyev’s interview

The interview by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Al Jazeera, devoted to the 20th anniversary of Azerbaijan’s independence reconstruction, wasn’t marked by any sensational statements. However, it confirms that Azerbaijan has no intention to change its foreign and internal political course. It makes us hope for maintaining fragile stability in the region.

The first thesis was about the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Answering the question on prospects of the settlement, Ilham Aliyev said the conflict is the biggest threat for the region and left open the possibility of some scenario at the contact line. Then President one more time emphasized that Azerbaijan has rights to restore its territorial integrity. He also said that peaceful settlement of the conflict is of priority. The classic position of Baku was voiced: “We are for negotiations, but our patience is limited.”

Without any doubts for mention of the constitutional right to defense of territorial integrity Armenia will accuse Aliyev of military oratory in any suitable case. Such playing by Yerevan is not new. It is aimed at Western diplomats, expressing concern at any mention of the word “war.”

Yerevan provides campaign on substitution of notions, in which the victim of aggression and occupation is presented as an aggressor threatening stability in the region. In reality it is Armenian position that pushes the South Caucasus to war scenario. Moreover, some forces in Armenia permanently urge for military advance to Azerbaijan, occupy Yevlakh and Mingechaur, destroy strategic pipelines and railroads. Thus, nothing tells that first shot in a new war in the region will be fired by the Azerbaijani side.

The question of Russian-Azerbaijani relations was also touched in the interview. Aliyev reacted calmly at the idea by Vladimir Putin on the Eurasian Union. “We have agreements on free trade with many former Soviet republics, and they are effective. From this point of view, there are no problems with our economy ties. Turnover with Russia is growing intensively,” President stated. He meant that economy integration is possible without establishing of new institutes. And if they are established, they should be beneficial for Azerbaijan.

Nevertheless, experts consider that Putin’s idea only slightly concerns the South Caucasus. It is more aimed at the Central Asia. In addition, the conception of the Eurasian Union mirrors the idea by President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, voiced in 1994 during a lecture in MSU.

Bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Russia will develop positively under supposed President Putin. Aliyev reminded that it was Putin who visited Azerbaijan for the first time on behalf of the Russian Federation top management. Despite the fact Azerbaijan dissatisfied with Russian-Armenian warm relations and competition between Russia and Azerbaijan for European energy market, Baku won’t sharpen relations with the Kremlin.

Another important topic was the issue of democracy, human rights and European integration. President denied cases of freedom of speech suppression, emphasizing that it is free access to Internet in Azerbaijan. Weakness of Azerbaijani opposition President explained by success of the governmental policy and Azerbaijani economy growth. Of course, the opposition has its own opinion, but the facts say in the context of poverty rate decreasing and establishing new working places popularity of the opposition falls. Moreover, the opposition still cannot present united front and attract significant number of supporters. The Public Chamber organization disappointed even its initiators. Instead of civil opposition we observe Islamic one.

Europe is still a welcome partner, but cooperation with it is clouded by double standards. For example, Azerbaijani President dissatisfied with the fact that no criticism is heard toward Armenia where during suppression of the demonstration in March 2008 10 people were killed. Azerbaijan has no intention to become a member of the EU. “We are realists. If we receive such invitation, we will consider it. If not, we won’t nock at the closed door. We are the country of strong Muslim traditions. At the same time, we are modern, civil country. At the current stage of our relations with the European Union both sides are satisfied with the level of cooperation,” President noted. Aliyev emphasized that democracy and European integration direction is not imposed on the country, it is its own choice.

Orkhan Sattarov.