On September 30th the 20th anniversary of signing the Treaty on Free Trade between Russia and Azerbaijan was marked. Russian-Azerbaijani diplomatic relations has lasted for two decades. Russian and Azerbaijani experts discuss economic cooperation, political relations, and development of a dialogue between civil societies of two countries.
Alexei Vlasov, editor-in-chief of Vestnik Kavkaza, head of the political scientific center “North-South”
When we speak about solving bilateral problems, we often turn to the competence of presidents and foreign ministries; now the dialogue between Russian and Azerbaijani parliaments becomes intensive. However, we should remember another powerful resource which isn’t used to its full extent in our relations. I mean public diplomacy, i.e. communications in the non-governmental sector, communications between educational structures and youth organizations. In the past 20 years a new generation has been raised in Russia and Azerbaijan, and young people don’t know each other and don’t know much about each other. Many Russian citizens have never been to Azerbaijan. By the way, according to recent social polls, 70% of Ukrainians have never visited Russia. Thus, independent processes appear due to which we might cut off each other. The task is to compensate these problem zones, establish a new space for cooperation and cooperation. It depends not only on the ruling elites, but also on the non-governmental sector.
Russian non-governmental organizations actively cooperate with Azerbaijani partners in discussion and settlement issues connected with the Caspian future and contribute to approaching of Moscow and Baku’s positions on the future of the Caspian Sea. The other example is the establishing of offices in Baku and the development of information communications between Russian and Azerbaijani journalists – isn’t this the way to solve problems in the future? I present the political scientific center “North-South” which have presented reports of Russian and Azerbaijani experts on problems of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Eurasian integration project and the economic cooperation between two countries (last year the inter-regional forum took place in Astrakhan). One might say that these actions are small. However, since the 19th century Russia has believed that the theory of smaller-scale issues can settle problems which cannot be solved by the authorities for independent geopolitical reasons. At the moment the authorities of our countries fail to establish a dialogue in the format which is necessary for the civil societies of Russia and Azerbaijan. Today public diplomacy, Russian and Azerbaijani information, youth and humanitarian funds should consolidate their efforts. At the same time, it should not be a simple cooperation at the level of holding conferences and round tables; it should include the establishing of common sense, preparation of a strategy and conceptual reports which touch on the problems of youth policy or information policy of Russia and Azerbaijan, and in a prospect of the South Caucasus. It should be a product created by both Russian and Azerbaijani experts. There are such examples, but the task is to make them full-scaled, directed not at the past which is full of unpleasant and tragic moments, but at the future. Young people who are 20-25 years old are those people who will build Russian-Azerbaijani relations in a prospect. The focus should be made on unified approaches in establishing youth communications, like Heydar Aliyev Fund does. For example, holding journalist workshops. Vestnik Kavkaza and RIA Novosti do great job in this direction. It will bring its fruits sooner or later.
In Russia political scientists are divided into those who deal with theories and those who work in field. The last see problems of our relations from inside, feel them from both Russian and Azerbaijani sides. There is no problem that cannot be solved. But the task is to involve not only the authorities, bureaucrats, ministries and departments, but also journalists, experts, scientists, educational workers. In this case obstacles which prevent the bilateral relations from development will be eliminated.
Tofik Abbasov, editor-in-chief of New Baku Post
The past 20 years were abrupt. There were ups and downs; it was time of learning each other. Today we experience a new start. Efforts taken in various spheres (economy, humanitarian and cultural spheres) influence the whole situation and a health start of a political dialogue between Moscow and Baku. Heads of our countries, our governments have a political will for development cooperation. Sometimes one gets an ambiguous impression: at what level our relations exist. Considering initiatives of our official structures, executive bodies, humanitarian organizations, non-governmental organizations, there is a favorable situation – mutual understanding, realizing tasks for the future. However, sometimes the mass media and experts voice not really realistic ideas and reports. Thus, one might think: on the one hand, things happen in a stable way; on the other hand, people who form social views push the whole process in a wrong way. The situation appears to be paradoxical. For known and unknown reasons the mass media and experts of our countries carefully follow processes, statements, and analytical observations. Sometimes facts are misinterpreted; they create a wrong perception of Azerbaijani reality in the Russian media. All necessary replies and comments are being made. But unfortunately, our friends in Russia, who know well Azerbaijani reality and understand our views on our future relations, are not active in expressing their point of view and don’t bring clearness to the situation. I meet people who come from Russia to Azerbaijan. They are surprised: “We thought about it in a different way.” Of course, people expected the worst, but saw a different picture.
Regarding social attitudes, we should do this work at all platforms. Some forces invite unreliable people, ambiguous circles for destabilization of our relations. This paradoxical situation worries us. We pay attention to it. We want this process to have double-sided direction. We should extend our activity in the information sphere for avoiding such destabilization.
Ismail Agakishiyev, deputy general director of the Information and Analysis Center of MSU
Any problem can be solved, if we have good will, hard working instead of talking, sincere attitude instead of formal attitude. A person shouldn’t put the blame on another person. We all are guilty for the problems of the early 1990s. I don’t agree that we had hostile relations still in 2000. As a representative of the Azerbaijani Diaspora I can say that when Azerbaijan was in economic collapse in 1993-1997. Millions of Azerbaijani suffered. The Azerbaijani history had never seen such a situation – there are nomads and settled people, we have always been settled people. However, millions left Azerbaijan not to go Turkey, not to Iran, but to Russia, and Russia welcomed them. We express gratitude to the Russian people. We always remember it. Azerbaijani are both grateful and generous people. When they found job in Russia, they realized that they could support their families. I was in Baku in 1993 and saw what a difficult economic situation was in the country. Then, the war in Chechnya was; the situation was hard, but food came from Russia to Azerbaijan, despite everything. It cannot be forgotten.
As for mentality, I’ve been to Turkey. I can say that Azerbaijanis are much closer to people who live in the post-Soviet territory than to the Turkish people. Opportunities for development of positive relations are huge. We should work. We would like the current problems to be settled step by step.
