The first lobbying effort of Azerbaijan
Probably, the Azerbaijani government wanted to reflect its disenchantment of the deal that was being worked out, through official channels and hoped to handle the issue through contacts from government to government.
Yet when it realized that its official contacts were proving unsuccessful to stop Ankara from reaching a deal without taking into account Azerbaijan’s reservations, it recoursed to public diplomacy.
Half a dozen female lawmakers, some looking like fashion models, came to Ankara to visit Turkish lawmakers as well as government officials. But, this is an outdated way of lobbying.
Even Gazprom has got rid of the communist way of doing business and hired a professional firm for its public relations in Europe as well as Turkey.
In Baku you can see the political nomenclature driving super luxurious cars, them and their wives wearing the world’s most expensive brands. Yet it is not those brand names that are going to lobby on behalf of the Azerbaijani government.
No one is suggesting that they should stop spending on luxurious brands. This is just to prove that Baku has enough financial resources to spend for an issue that is vital to its national interests.
It is high time for Baku to adopt a professional approach for lobbying. That new professional effort should not only target Turkey but the European capitals, as well as Washington.
There is not one capital in Europe that does not welcome the Turkish-Armenian reconciliation process. Thus, it is very difficult for Azerbaijan to generate sympathy across Europe and the United States about its objections to the process unless it finds the ways to pass its message at the right time, the right place with the right arguments. And Azerbaijan does not lack arguments to make its case.
If Europe needs to reduce its energy dependence to Russia, and if indeed this policy of diversification of suppliers as well as transport routes is supported by the United States, then they should realize that Azerbaijani oil and gas are vital to the implementation of such a policy. Azerbaijan cannot just sit and watch the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations without progress on the Nagorno-Karabakh problem and conclude energy deals with Europe as if nothing contrary to the interests of Azerbaijan has taken place.
Azerbaijan should not advocate a pause in the Turkish-Armenian reconciliation. But it should ask for the reactivation of diplomatic efforts to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. European capitals can strongly encourage Yerevan for a compromise solution.
For years, Armenians have been forgotten by Europeans. An active support from European capitals will decrease their sense of isolation in the region, their sense of fear
In short, Baku should give up traditional ways of doing business and start spending its petrodollars on the right thing.
Barcin Yinanc/Hurriyet Daily News
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