The Same Day News has published an article on Armenia - Azerbaijan realities and why Armenia is trying to destabilise the situation in the region. AzVision.az reprints the very article.


The original of the text is available here


As some of you may aware there is a conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the lands that Armenia occupied in Azerbaijan. And since the day of occupation Armenia has been trying to cause more provocation that lead to deaths of innocent people. For example, the Armenian armed forces have been carrying out military exercises in Azerbaijan`s lands in the past few days. What were they doing this? We have found a comprehensive answer to that question from the Deputy head of the Azerbaijani President`s Administration Novruz Mammadov. He has said that: – Those who are familiar with the Armenian leadership`s logic and policy relating to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can hardly be surprised at this. If we look at the latest processes relating to the settlement of the dispute – the meetings in Sochi, Paris and talks with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry – it appeared to produce an impression that there is some movement in the solution of the problem and that efforts are being made to solve the conflict. Armenian President Sargsyan, Foreign Minister Nalbandian even made statements that they were pleased with the negotiations. But carrying out frequent provocations and misleading the international community into having a biased opinion about Azerbaijan under such circumstances, seems to be what the Armenians needed badly. Just think about it. What is the meaning of conducting exercises involving a 40,000-strong army in Azerbaijan`s occupied Agdam?! What is the point of provoking the Azerbaijani side by crossing the line of contact?! So this is where the Armenian leadership`s sly policy makes itself felt very distinctly. The Armenian leadership frequently resorts to such sly provocations to build a negative opinion of Azerbaijan through their diasporas, lobbyists and other forces patronising them after misleading the international community into thinking that there is progress in the talks. They attempt to make others believe that Azerbaijan does not want the conflict to be solved. One should ask the Armenian government what their purpose in carrying out military exercises in Azerbaijani lands are, lands that they have kept under occupation for 25 years. Certainly, everybody knows that there is only one purpose, to discredit Azerbaijan, to build – helped by their supporters – a negative opinion about Azerbaijan. This is the purpose. There have been many such sly provocations, but whatever their purpose is, Armenians will never achieve it. Liberating the occupied lands is Azerbaijan`s main target.

Rationale of The President Aliyev

It seems that President of Azerbaijan Mr Ilham Aliyev is the only leader in the region who wants stability. If the President of Armenia had the same credentials and political experience maybe this conflict would be solved. Let us just tell you the story of the President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev. He is the current President of Azerbaijan and has been since 2003. One of the reasons why President Aliyev is so popular with the nation is due to the fact that he is striving to develop a more democratic country. Others have stated that living standards have significantly increased since President Aliyev has come into power. The last 10 years have seen extensive construction in the country and towns, cities and villages which has significantly improved modern living standards. Furthermore, the President has constantly been in negotiations with Western states that are attracted by Azerbaijan’s location and status as a producer and transporter of oil and natural gas. He has secured the investment of BP, ExxonMobil and other Western companies who have invested billions of dollars to have a share of Azerbaijan’s oil wealth. In fact, in 2005 an oil pipeline which is supported by the US and the European Union went into force. This pipeline pumps Azerbaijani crude oil via Georgia into Turkey cutting out any involvement of Russia.

Under President Aliyev’s rule Azerbaijan has become a world leader in its economic performance and its GDP has increased tremendously. Over the last 10 years the income of the population has increased 6.5 times. There has also been a significant decline in poverty and unemployment in the country. In terms of the international sphere, Azerbaijan has earned itself a good reputation and is treated with respect. In fact, many international events are held in Azerbaijan, for example the international conference on the Third Humanitarian Forum. Azerbaijan can be viewed as the political, economic and cultural centre in the region and there is rapid development and public and political stability. It seems the aim of the government and the President is to continue expanding Azerbaijan’s economy, building a modern society and reinforcing their foreign policy priorities. These foreign policies are incredibly important to the status of the country and their election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2011 in competition with other countries was a historic achievement and success in the foreign political sphere. This shows international respect and an agreement from the world that President Aliyev is taking the right steps for the country. According to the President, Azerbaijan is a country that puts its national needs over anything else and has contributed to global security and the establishment of peace by developing dialogue between cultures and civilisations.

Azerbaijan and EU Integration

Unfortunately Armenia remains a state who does not share European values and who is trying to stop Azerbaijan from integration into Europe. We just conducted some research on the progress in Azerbaijan, and we were quite surprised with positive results. In recent years Azerbaijan has been steadily and persistently pursuing an “evolutionary” reform strategy in order to develop democracy and a market economy in the country and to bring Azerbaijan closer to the EU. The reason for cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU is to develop a strong relationship in order to eventually achieve economic integration and extensive political cooperation. In fact we can trace the Azerbaijani government’s communications with the EU back to 1996, when the EU–Azerbaijan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement was signed, and then to 1999, when it entered into force.

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has previously travelled to Brussels to meet with EU and NATO officials, and to sign the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan. This agreement has started a new chapter for Azerbaijan’s integration into Europe and is aimed at further developing the relationship between Azerbaijan and the EU and the integration of the country into European structures. President Aliyev has also signed an agreement with EU officials about exporting Azerbaijani gas from the Shah-Deniz field into the European Markets. These arrangements show that Azerbaijan is slowly but steadily moving towards closer relations with EU structures, and that the President and the country are fully intending to extend its integration with the EU, possibly to the level of seeking NATO and EU membership in years to come.

The Azerbaijani Youth European Integration in association with the Embassy of Azerbaijan London and NGO Support Foundation under the President of Azerbaijan held a panel discussion at Royal Geographical Society this year. Here they talked about the achievements of the EU-Azerbaijan partnership and prospects of strengthening this partnership in the future. It was mentioned that integration into the European structures is one of the key foreign policy objectives of Azerbaijan and for the last 20 years the EU and Azerbaijan has made vital development in establishing this vital collaboration. Azerbaijan has had a role in and continues to contribute to EU programs such as the European Neighbourhood Policy and Eastern Partnership and contributes to the European energy security which shows grounds for the development of relations with the EU.

In the fourth meeting of the Azerbaijan State Commission for European Integration in 2013, the prospect of developing the relations between Azerbaijan and the EU was discussed. The Economic Development Minister stated that “the strategy of multilateral development, successfully carried out by President Ilham Aliyev, has provided social and economic development of the country and increased its economic power in a short time.” This shows how the commitment of President Aliyev has led to an integrated system of international economy into Azerbaijan. He then went on to state that “political and macroeconomic stability, democratic and independent society, respect to human rights and freedoms as well as a successful national model of social-economic development has turned Azerbaijan into a reliable partner in the area of international relations.”

Overall it seems that Azerbaijan and the European Union have maintained a positive relationship through the years and have become more closely linked. Azerbaijan is currently part of the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Council of Europe, and is striving to extend its successful relationship with the EU. Meetings are being held and action plans made in order to bring Azerbaijani legislation in accordance with EU law and to ensure that Azerbaijan and the EU have a wide range of opportunities to discuss the prospects of future cooperation. In any case, it is clear that Azerbaijan and the European Union have similar aims and views on most policies and are currently working together to forward their joint interests.

So it seems that Armenia is just jealous seeing witnessing all of these results and trying to cause problems by provoking Azerbaijan who wants to be integrated into Europe. Of course it is always drama to have a jealous neighbour.

More about: