Interview with Azerbaijani political scientist Vafa Guluzade, a former presidential adviser on foreign policy.
Q: How do you assess the results of NATO’s Lisbon summit?
A: Nothing new occurs at summits; they just confirm the previously established state of affairs. As for NATO's Lisbon summit, it fixed the complete victory of the United States and their allies in Europe. They demonstrated unity of purpose and strategy and clearly closed the circle of friends and enemies. The states ready to cooperate closely with NATO were also revealed. For example, the agreement that allied troops will not be withdrawn from Afghanistan until 2014 is a success for the United States and their allies. This was what the United States wanted in order to control India and China. The position on Iran was also unanimous and it meets the interests of the United States and their allies as well. And finally, cooperation between NATO and Russia is becoming real. In addition, the mouthpiece for the sentiments of a section of the Russian leadership, Vladimir Zhirinovskiy, has said Russia should join NATO. This is also a success for the US since Russia’s membership of NATO would bring it under the US banner.
Q: How did the summit go for Azerbaijan?
A: It was very successful. In its statement, the North Atlantic Alliance voiced extreme concern at the continuing regional conflicts in the South Caucasus and urged the sides to settle the conflicts peacefully, demonstrating constructiveness and political will and to treat negotiations with respect. As we know, it is the Armenian leadership that is frustrating the negotiation process and demonstrating lack of respect for the norms of international law and the efforts of all parties interested in a fair resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. In addition, NATO recognized the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, which is also a success for Azerbaijani diplomacy and demonstrates the fair position of the North Atlantic Alliance on the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Q: Was this why Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan did not attend the Lisbon summit?
A: Formally, yes. Summit agendas are sent to the heads of participating states in advance, so Serzh Sargsyan was aware of what would happen at the NATO summit in Lisbon. But the real cause of the Armenian president’s failure to attend was different. Russia simply banned him from attending the summit. Armenia will always remain Russia's outpost in the Caucasus. To lose this outpost for Russia means the complete loss of our whole region, since Georgia openly demonstrates its desire for NATO membership and the development of mutual relations with the United States, rather than with Russia, while Azerbaijan is also developing relations with the North Atlantic Alliance very gently and delicately without spoiling ties with Russia.
Q: In other words, Serzh Sargsyan’s non-participation in the Lisbon summit does not meet the interests of Armenia.
A: It certainly doesn't. But as I have already mentioned, Armenia is not an independent state, so it just fulfills the instructions of those who consider it its outpost in the Caucasus. It will not attend a summit if told not to and vice versa.
Q: Why doesn’t anyone in Armenia resent their country's lack of independence?
A: This is not as simple as it may seem at first sight. Yes, Armenia also understands that the president has been reduced to the level of a servant, but those who are against the current state are unable to change anything. Russia’s influence on the country covers not only foreign policy. It is Russia that appoints and overthrows presidents in Armenia. It is satisfied so far with Serzh Sargsyan, who is ready to play the servant’s role, so a possible shift in power in Armenia is out of the question now.
Akper Hasanov
News.Az
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