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AZERBAIJAN SUPPORTS PUTIN
Vestnik Kavkaza
March 13 2012
Russia
by Orkhan Sattarov, head of European office of VK
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili concluded his two-day visit to
Azerbaijan last week. Baku wants to cooperate with Georgia, primarily
in the economy. On the other hand, it does not want to support Mikheil
Saakashvili's outbursts against Russia.
The visit proved devotion to further strengthening of bilateral
relations. Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev called their ties with
Georgia brotherly. Saakashvili thanked Azerbaijan for support in
development and reminded about aid Azerbaijan has offered in hard
times. The sides signed a memorandum on cooperation in statistics
and cooperation in sports.
They agreed to intensify construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway,
opening a window to Europe. The first trains will be launched in
late 2012. The leaders agreed to form a joint company for export of
electricity. An official of the Georgian Energy Ministry said that
electricity will be exported to Turkey and Russia.
Saakashvili made a speech at the Azerbaijani parliament and quoted
Mamedemin Rasulzade, founder of the first Azerbaijani Democratic
Republic. The Georgian president said that the two states "have always
fought together against Christian and Muslim invaders, pagans and
communists", obviously hinting the recent Russian-Georgian war.
Saakashvili called formation of the Eurasian Union an attempt to
restore the Soviet Union.
Saakashvili's speech was obviously a success, but anti-Russian attitude
would be met with a lot more support in Poland or Baltic states than
Baku. Azerbaijan has been sticking to a more pragmatic approach to
relations with Russia, both during the rule of President Heydar Aliyev
and Ilham Aliyev. Many officials in Baku expressed disappointment
with Saakashvili's using the Azerbaijani platform to criticize
Russia. Azerbaijani MP Fazail Agamaly called Saakashvili's speech
"venturesome" and said that it was a stab into Azerbaijani-Russian
relations. The parliamentary official also reminded that Russians
entered the Caucasus on invitation of Erekle II, who signed the
so-called Treaty of Georgiyevsk, allowing Russia to expand in South
Caucasus.
Experts say that many share Agamaly's position in Baku. Azerbaijan is
willing to develop ties with Georgia, but sharing responsibility for
Saakashvili's outbursts against Russia is not part of its plans. Baku
is concerned with the Iranian nuclear program, a problem with direct
impact on Russia in South Caucasus. At the same time, Moscow is
negotiating further lease of the Qabala radar. Azerbaijani, Turkish
and Iranian foreign ministers made a joint statement in Nakhchivan
on March 7, an essential step in normalizing relations between Baku
and Tehran. Turan reported that the sides confirmed the importance
of settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict basing on sovereignty,
territorial unity and respect of frontiers. Azerbaijan, Iran and
Turkey confirmed that their territories would not be used against each
other. The sides want to activate efforts in combating terrorism,
transnational crime, illegal trafficking of weapons, drugs, people
and illegal migration. They also plan to expand trade-economic,
energy and transport cooperation.
Ali Gasanov, head of the socio-political section of the Azerbaijani
Presidential Administration, said in an interview with ANS, that
Azerbaijan would never allow its territory to be used against Iran,
where about 40 million Azerbaijanis live. Azerbaijani defense minister
visited Iran on March 12 to clarify the purchase of Israeli equipment
worth $1.6 billion by Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan is willing to develop ties with Russia, where Vladimir
Putin has recently become the new president. President Ilham Aliyev
congratulated the Russian president and invited him to Baku. This is
why Saakashvili chose a very bad moment for making his anti-Russian
speeches in Azerbaijan. Baku is not adjusting its regional position for
the benefit of Moscow or Tehran and does not plan to provoke tensions.
Saakashvili could have done better at depicting Russia as a "common
enemy" of Azerbaijan and Georgia by reminding about occupation of
Azerbaijani territories by Armenia, calling the latter an outpost
of Russia in South Caucasus. The Georgian president decided not to
put his relations with Armenia at risk. Azerbaijan and Georgia are
obviously allies, but they have differences at certain points.
Politicians should take this fact into account.
Vestnik Kavkaza
March 13 2012
Russia
by Orkhan Sattarov, head of European office of VK
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili concluded his two-day visit to
Azerbaijan last week. Baku wants to cooperate with Georgia, primarily
in the economy. On the other hand, it does not want to support Mikheil
Saakashvili's outbursts against Russia.
The visit proved devotion to further strengthening of bilateral
relations. Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev called their ties with
Georgia brotherly. Saakashvili thanked Azerbaijan for support in
development and reminded about aid Azerbaijan has offered in hard
times. The sides signed a memorandum on cooperation in statistics
and cooperation in sports.
They agreed to intensify construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway,
opening a window to Europe. The first trains will be launched in
late 2012. The leaders agreed to form a joint company for export of
electricity. An official of the Georgian Energy Ministry said that
electricity will be exported to Turkey and Russia.
Saakashvili made a speech at the Azerbaijani parliament and quoted
Mamedemin Rasulzade, founder of the first Azerbaijani Democratic
Republic. The Georgian president said that the two states "have always
fought together against Christian and Muslim invaders, pagans and
communists", obviously hinting the recent Russian-Georgian war.
Saakashvili called formation of the Eurasian Union an attempt to
restore the Soviet Union.
Saakashvili's speech was obviously a success, but anti-Russian attitude
would be met with a lot more support in Poland or Baltic states than
Baku. Azerbaijan has been sticking to a more pragmatic approach to
relations with Russia, both during the rule of President Heydar Aliyev
and Ilham Aliyev. Many officials in Baku expressed disappointment
with Saakashvili's using the Azerbaijani platform to criticize
Russia. Azerbaijani MP Fazail Agamaly called Saakashvili's speech
"venturesome" and said that it was a stab into Azerbaijani-Russian
relations. The parliamentary official also reminded that Russians
entered the Caucasus on invitation of Erekle II, who signed the
so-called Treaty of Georgiyevsk, allowing Russia to expand in South
Caucasus.
Experts say that many share Agamaly's position in Baku. Azerbaijan is
willing to develop ties with Georgia, but sharing responsibility for
Saakashvili's outbursts against Russia is not part of its plans. Baku
is concerned with the Iranian nuclear program, a problem with direct
impact on Russia in South Caucasus. At the same time, Moscow is
negotiating further lease of the Qabala radar. Azerbaijani, Turkish
and Iranian foreign ministers made a joint statement in Nakhchivan
on March 7, an essential step in normalizing relations between Baku
and Tehran. Turan reported that the sides confirmed the importance
of settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict basing on sovereignty,
territorial unity and respect of frontiers. Azerbaijan, Iran and
Turkey confirmed that their territories would not be used against each
other. The sides want to activate efforts in combating terrorism,
transnational crime, illegal trafficking of weapons, drugs, people
and illegal migration. They also plan to expand trade-economic,
energy and transport cooperation.
Ali Gasanov, head of the socio-political section of the Azerbaijani
Presidential Administration, said in an interview with ANS, that
Azerbaijan would never allow its territory to be used against Iran,
where about 40 million Azerbaijanis live. Azerbaijani defense minister
visited Iran on March 12 to clarify the purchase of Israeli equipment
worth $1.6 billion by Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan is willing to develop ties with Russia, where Vladimir
Putin has recently become the new president. President Ilham Aliyev
congratulated the Russian president and invited him to Baku. This is
why Saakashvili chose a very bad moment for making his anti-Russian
speeches in Azerbaijan. Baku is not adjusting its regional position for
the benefit of Moscow or Tehran and does not plan to provoke tensions.
Saakashvili could have done better at depicting Russia as a "common
enemy" of Azerbaijan and Georgia by reminding about occupation of
Azerbaijani territories by Armenia, calling the latter an outpost
of Russia in South Caucasus. The Georgian president decided not to
put his relations with Armenia at risk. Azerbaijan and Georgia are
obviously allies, but they have differences at certain points.
Politicians should take this fact into account.