Foreign Policy of Azerbaijan Republic - Term Paper Example

Student: Lecturer: Course: Date: Foreign Policy of Azerbaijan Republic Introduction Azerbaijan Republic is an adjoining coast-to-coast presidential republic located in the region of Caucasus, positioned at the Western Asia and Eastern Europe crossroads. Azerbaijan is boarded in the south by Iran, west by Armenia, northwest by Georgia, north by Russia and on the east by Caspian Sea. Azerbaijan Republic is a member of thirty-two regional and international organizations. Some of the most important and popular organization where Azerbaijan is a member include the United Nations, European Council, CIS, CSCE, European Union, organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation, World Bank, UNICEF, UNDESCO, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, Organization of Islamic Conference, and International Olympic Committee among others. The Azerbaijan foreign policy conceptual basis aims at strengthening and preserving territorial integrity and national independence, create equally beneficiary associations, and create friendly connections with all nations in the globe. Among the past tendencies are the associations with Eurasian neighbours that include CIS nations, bordering nations, traditional European partners of trade, and the leading global nations, Security Council members, Turkic world and Islamic nations (Office of the President 1). The best part of Azerbaijan diplomatic effort is centres on the search for manner in which Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict can be regulated. According to Office of the President (2), the UN Security Council approved four resolutions demanding return and release of all refugees to their settlements locations on the Azerbaijan territories which are still under occupation of Armenia. The 39th UN Commission session on women approved the resolution advocating for the release of all female hostage captured in armed conflict. The Azerbaijan foreign policy has been applied in different situations to enhance peace and to ensure unity among Azerbaijan and other nations in the world. However, the implementation of Azerbaijan Republic foreign policy is faced by a number of challenges as a result of its strategic position, surrounding conflicts, neighbours and wealth in resources (Office of the President 2). This paper focuses on discussing Azerbaijan foreign policy and some of the challenges and measures the country had to take to ensure it fulfil its foreign policy goals. Foreign Policy The Azerbaijan Republic has prioritized its foreign polies. Some of the foreign policies provided an upper hand include promotion of the pluralistic democracy establishment founded on the rule of law and market economy. The second one involves conducting foreign policy which is independent with an intention of restoring Azerbaijan territory integrity and sovereignty over its territory soonest. The next one involves elimination of risks and threats to the security, territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence (Republic of Azerbaijan Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1). The country also looks forward to peaceful settlement of the Armenia conflict regarding Nagorno-Karabakh area of Azerbaijan via negotiation in the OSCE Minsk Group framework, based on the OSCE Lisbon Summit principles. It also focuses on eliminating military aggression consequences of Armenia over Azerbaijan. Moreover the country aims at creating good-neighbourly and equally useful associations with neighbouring nations. This is to be attained by enhancing stability and security in the area and preventing transfers of illegal arms in the country and across the fighting regions (Azerbaijan.az 1). The country’s foreign policy also advocates for adherence to current international non-proliferation governments and creating of a nuclear free area in the Southern Caucasus. Others include Caspian Sea basis demilitarization, integration of the country and the region into Transatlantic and European security as well as in the cooperate structures which include CE, WEU, EU and NATO. It also aims at facilitating the growth of different sectors of the economy of a country with due deliberation of critical geostrategic location of Azerbaijan at the crossroad amid West and East. Finally, the country also aims at developing the Eurasian Transport Corridor that Azerbaijan has a role to. The Republic of Azerbaijan has signed several international treaties and agreements, and joined some essential conventions that include children right convention, convention of the all kind of discrimination over women. Basically, the country hopes to ensure that there is peace in the region and its surrounding so as to enhance trade in the region. However, its position subjects the country into a constant trend of solving problems from one conflict to another. However its undying effort has enabled it to attain a lot in its effort to prevent the three most aspects of a country that include sovereignty, independency and peace in the neighbourhood (Office of the President 3). Foreign Principle Development in Azerbaijan Azerbaijan has a number of distinguished features that makes a foreign policy not just an essential tool for its development, but the only tool the country can use for survival. Azerbaijan is mainly a Muslim nation with a post-Soviet history, nevertheless one which is on the European political map, though with neighbourhood that includes countries such as Turkey, Iran and Russia. In this regard a foreign policy cannot only be considered as an instrument to international relations but a survival tool for Azerbaijan (Makili-Aliyev 1). Similarly, the country physical position gives it an opportunity to act as bridge between Asia and Europe, Christian and Muslim worlds and an entryway to transportation and energy corridors (Ipek 226). In this regard, Azerbaijan is one of the most strategic countries of the previous Soviet Union with regard to both international and regional security. In addition, Azerbaijan plays a major role in economic integration especially in hydrocarbons transit from Caspians basin. Being a section of the South Caucasus, the country is eventually a section of the geopolitical section where regional powers that include Iran, Turkey and Russia contain critical political and economic interests. Moreover, this area is a place international player that includes the EU and the US are also involved in the exercise of their power. Being the country with the largest economy in the area, Azerbaijan international and regional players will exact different impact on the country as compared to other nations in the region (South Caucasus). In this regard, such variations and their possible effect must be considered when it comes to the strategy to establish the foreign policy of Azerbaijan. According to (Makili-Aliyev 2), there is a perfect understanding in Azerbaijan case that that varying techniques of the abovementioned global and regional powers may yield to clashing of interests and therefore Azerbaijan has to create a pragmatic and balanced foreign policy. When analysed, the strategy of Azerbaijan foreign policy demonstrates several principles which create its core and act as guidelines for all measures taken internationally and regionally. Among these principles is the necessity of changing possible regional threats into strategic opportunities and partnership. A good example for this is the association between Russia and Azerbaijan. Another principle of this kind is the projection of Azerbaijan image as a responsible international relations partner. According to Makili-Aliyev, for a nation looking for a well-adjusted foreign policy, it is highly essential to uphold stable stand with regard to regional and global problems. Actually, to attain a balanced and effective policy, the country requires acting as a predictable and stable actor. Impulsive and emotional reaction requires to be eliminated from making of foreign principles in the country. According to (Makili-Aliyev 3), a predictable foreign policy eradicates the factor of surprise in multilateral and bilateral association and ascertains the state credibility as a partner for different inter-stated relations levels. Developing of a competitive and strong economy is another principle which will allow Azerbaijan to be independent in making decisions regarding management of its resource. According to (Makili-Aliyev 3), it is quite challenging to be enclosed by great states with big economies and remain outside or uphold independence of their economic track. Azerbaijan has managed to do this by strengthening its economy to ensure that the country is able to differentiate dependencies. This highly assists the country to be independent and pragmatic in defining its foreign policy. Based on a multi-vector technique, Azerbaijan is obligated to the norm of upholding a secure passageway between Asia and Europe for free communications, technology, resources, energy, people and trade flow. Therefore, guaranteeing openness in the two directions in Eurasia is a critical Azerbaijan’ guideline in the foreign policy formulation strategy. Foreign Policy Implementation Azerbaijan foreign policy is based on three main goals which include making Azerbaijan a main regional powers partner, resolving the Karabakh conflict and retaining independence. However, two years after the end of Russian-Georgian war in August 2008 have represented a dangerous stage in the foreign policy of Azerbaijan. The war created a novel instability source and pushed most of the post-Soviet Eurasia states to re-examine their foreign policies. On its part, Azerbaijan has tried to evade provoking Russia and has been careful in its desires for affiliation with either the European Union or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. According to Valiyev (1), Azerbaijan foreign policy can be defined as a form of “Finlandization,” similar to the neutrality Finnish pursuit experienced after Second World War in the hostile Soviet Union face. However, a comprehensive evaluation of the foreign policy for Azerbaijan proposes that the nation has in fact continued its foreign policy course balance for the last 16 years. The three above mentioned foreign policy goals have remained intact for the last 16 years. However, the country’s foreign policy for the past two years can be regarded as a form of silent diplomacy in which Baku is progressively generating the role of Azerbaijan in the region by use of powers contradictions. In this time, Baku has adopted some brave actions which demonstrate its policy is not reliant on powers of the region and that its preferences are not being considered. Azerbaijan has been trying to pursue a multipolarity path and power balancing in a “Small State Survival 101” with its direct neighbours. The main participants in this case remain neighbours of Caucasian that include Turkey, Iran, Israel and Russia. Azerbaijan has developed policies that deal with national sovereignty, energy question and Karabakh conflict directly or indirectly. Associations are highly driven by security needs and economic ties. Traditionally, Azerbaijan good associations with Georgia and slight disputes are overshadowed by railway projects and pipeline cooperation. This is highlighted by the role played by Baku in the 2008 war when it helps Georgia. Azerbaijan was the main CheChen refugees’ destination, who challenged Baku with economic issues and the Salafi radical aspects threat. Many were deported to Russia due to the fear of instability. Moreover, businessmen from Azeri trade and invest in regions in which their allies Russian do not contain an easy standing (Mazziotti 7). The conflict of the Nagorno-Karabakh remains the main topic in foreign policy agenda of Azerbaijan. Since the 1991 to 1994 war, the former Nagorno-Karabakh territory known as Autonomous Oblast and other seven sections of Azerbaijan remained under the occupation of Armenian. Armenia currently upholds a non-recognized government in the occupied territories that relies administratively and financially on Armenia, while encouraging international acknowledgement of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic which ironically is not recognized by Armenia. However, this entity is not recognized by any state in the world, and on the contrary Azerbaijan territorial integrity is upheld globally. Although there were four resolution adopted by the UN security council in 1993, which demanded for unqualified withdrawal of the forces occupying the region, all these resolutions have never been implemented. Despite of a number of efforts to resolve the issue, which include peaceful talks facilitated by Minski Group, the situation in the region has never been solved and thus, this issue still remains part of Azerbaijan foreign policy agenda since 1993 (Mazziotti 7). Azerbaijan Regional and International Framework Regional Association Azerbaijan has established different relations with its neighbours based on political and economic climate of each country. One of the country’s strategic partners is Turkey. The relation between Turkey and Azerbaijan has grown since Turkey regained its independence. The two countries are currently connected by projects that stretch from social, to cultural, economic, military and political spheres. The most significant relation between the two nations is the energy cooperation. There are currently two pipelines transiting gas and oil that connect Turkey with Azerbaijan via Georgia. Therefore, Turkey plays an essential role in the hydrocarbons transit to Europe from Caspian. Azerbaijan initially had a mistrust relation with Russia which was a common phenomenon after the dissolving of the Soviet Union. The conflict between the country and the Armenia regarding the Karabakh worsened the situation. Nevertheless, the change of Russian policy to more positive and friendly principles in early 2000s enhanced the two countries relation eventually. The bilateral association between Russia and Azerbaijan include a range of spheres that include close military and economic areas cooperation. Currently, Azerbaijan acts as the major Russian partner in the South Caucasus region, with Russian direct investment to the region registering a growth of 17 times from what was there in 1990s. The two countries also share military cooperation and working more to create a more developed strategic association (Mazziotti 4). On the other hand, the foreign association between Azerbaijan and Iran is as complex as the nuclear programme situation in Iran. The association between Azerbaijan and its Islamic neighbours has usually suffered from a particular degree of tension since independence. The two nations share frightening relation, despite of having same culture and history. However the two countries are trying to overcome the tension between them and developing a common ground where they can share a healthy association. However, the only major impact in their effort has only been felt in trade and cultural relation (Mazziotti 5). International Associations Azerbaijan has not only been working on its local association with regional nations but also the international connection. The country has established a good global association with major international players that include Israel and the US. The country has also joined a number of international organizations that include the EU and NATO. This partnership and cooperation has raised the level of association between the country and the western world. The US has already established an embassy in Azerbaijan. The main reason the US established the relation with Azerbaijan is its strategic location that links the country to Russia, Turkey and Iran giving the US a geopolitical advantages. Energy is another reason for the establishment of this relationship. Similarly, Israel, one of America allies acknowledges the Azerbaijan key trading and strategic partner. Being the only friendly Muslim country, Israel has founded it important to establish a relation with the country for business. Israel has made a number of investments in Azerbaijan (Makili-Aliyev 7) Azerbaijan is associated with a number of international organizations which are mainly used to solve international conflict regarding bleach of sovereignty among other things. Among them are the United Nation, the European Union and the NATO. The main purpose of this association is to assist the country handle its foreign conflict like the current conflict on karabakh. Azerbaijan has been facing this problem since 1991 and despite of the land not having the right administration, the land has always remained under the control of Armenia and any effort to resolve the issue has gone to the drain. There have been a number of talks involving the international bodies but Armenia is not ready to let go. Although the international public law open the basis for independence by self-determination, the evaluation clearly demonstrated that the seizing of Karabakh was military based and thus there was a bleach of international law regarding the Azerbaijan sovereignty. Based on its foreign policy, Azerbaijan is devoted to ensure peace among its neighbours. This has highly hindered the country from going into the war with Armenia despite of being in control of their territory for over two decades. This demonstrates how much Azerbaijan want to remain true to its call for peace. However, it is evidence based on the effort Azerbaijan is making to resolve the matter that the country may tire of trying to pursue talks and signing of treaties which Armenia will not keep. This may result to military action against Armenia. This option has remained unapplied for quite long time despite of Azerbaijan having an assurance for great support from strong associated in the international organizations and also the regional countries such as Turkey who will be willing to provide the country with military support. The current situation puts that the country has been constantly working on without measurable results (Mozzittio 10). Conclusion Azerbaijan focuses on maintaining its foreign policy diversity to evade one sided techniques in both multilateral and bilateral association and equity in in international and regional frameworks. The country has highly managed to maintain a good association with its neighbours, promoting their economic and military cooperation for the neighbours with more friendly foreign policies (Alivyev 10). However, the country is still experiencing a problem partnering fully with its Muslim neighbours especially due to the international issues associated with the country: Iran currently. Being a member of most international organizations that define international public relation law, the country has duty to keep these laws and thus, despite of sharing similar traditions with Iran, the two countries are very diverse in a number of ways and thus making it hard for the two nations to have a better relationship. Azerbaijan is among the countries previously bounded in Soviet Union. However, despite of nations that include Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Ukraine among others Central Asian countries that adopted a form of Finlandization system, Azerbaijan has considered to employ an independent foreign policy. Nevertheless, the Azerbaijan inability to solve the Karabakh conflict and the likelihood of war resumption continue to make the country venerable. This conflict remains as the only barrier hindering the Azerbaijan foreign policy action to intensify the interaction plan in Euro-Atlantic. Georgia and Azerbaijan remain among the few nations that can carry out independence policies after the breaking of the Soviet Union. However if the Azerbaijan frozen conflict remains, Azerbaijan is most likely to exhaust its foreign policy chances and become a prey of the developing Russian Caucasus influence. Work Cited Alivyev, Iiham. Foreign Policy Challenges for Azerbaijan. Chatham House. 2009 Azerbaijan.Az. The Priorities of The Foreign Policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan. 2015 < http://www.azerbaijan.az/portal/WorldCommunity/ForeignPolicy/foreignPolicy_e.html > Ipek, Pinar. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Policy and Challenges for Energy Security. The Middle East Journal, vol. 63, no. 2. (2009):227-239. Makili-Aliyev, Kamal. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Policy: Between East and West. Istituto Affari Internazionali Working Paper 12/05. 2013. Print Mozziotti, M., Sauerborn, D. and Scianna, B. M. Multipolarity is Key: Assessing Azerbaijan’s Foreign Policy. CESD Workign Papers. 2013. Print Office of the President. Azerbaijan in the International Arena. Administrative Department of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Presidential Library. 2007. Print Republic of Azerbaijan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Foreign Policies. 2015< http://www.mfa.gov.az/en/content/893 > Valiyev, Anar. Finlandication or Strategy of Keeping the Balance? Azerbaijan’s Foreign Policy Since the Russian-Georgian War. PNNARS Eurasia Policy Memo No. 112. 2010. Print Read More