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  • In NATO Circle ...

    IN NATO CIRCLE...
    by S. Rzayev, N. Aliyev
    Translated by A. Ignatkin

    Source: Ekho (Baku), November 25, 2006, EV
    Agency WPS
    DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
    November 29, 2006 Wednesday

    AZERBAIJANI EXPERTS CONTEMPLATE THE PROSPECTS OF MEMBERSHIP IN NATO;
    The NATO summit in Riga may demand an answer from Baku if it wants
    membership in the Alliance or not.

    Prominent American media outlets actively discuss the prospect of
    membership in NATO of some countries of the former Socialist camp,
    Azerbaijan included. Baku is one of the candidates, on a par with
    Georgia that does not even conceal its NATO aspirations. Moreover,
    the latter was already encouraged to launch the so called Intensified
    Dialogue, a last but one step preceding actual membership in the
    Alliance. American experts believe that a number of countries including
    Azerbaijan will be asked by the forthcoming NATO summit in Riga if
    they want membership in the Alliance or not.

    It may be added that Azerbaijani experts practically agree with
    their American counterparts. On the other hand, nobody in Baku can
    say anything definite on the date or conditions of Azerbaijan's
    membership in NATO. "To tell you the truth, I do not know if the so
    called well-balanced policy promoted by the Azerbaijani authorities
    stipulates membership in the Alliance at this point," said Nasib
    Nasibli, Milli Mejlis deputy and member of the permanent Commission
    for Parliamentary Contacts and International Affairs. According to
    the lawmaker, official Baku constantly emphasizes that "integration
    into Euroatlantic structures is what we are after" but "I can't say
    I perceive any actual steps in this direction." Nasibli recalled in
    this context the statement he had made on return from Washington in
    2003. According to Nasibli, Bush's Administrations strategic plans
    envisaged existence of a group of countries across the ocean that
    were supposed to officially apply for NATO membership. Azerbaijan
    was one of these countries. "The latest developments around Georgia
    and some countries of East Europe, as well as earnest discussion
    of Baku as a candidate in America show plainly that this assumption
    was correct," Nasibli said. He said that a senior Pentagon official
    had asked the question of the Azerbaijani authorities on a visit
    to Baku in 2003. "Washington was given unofficial consent then,"
    the parliamentarian assumed. Officially, however, no such statement
    has ever been made.

    Nasibli is convinced that membership in NATO will guarantee Azerbaijan
    security. He believes furthermore that nearby Georgia's membership
    in the Alliance is not everything, that Azerbaijan's membership in
    it is needed. "These two neighbors open a way into Central Asia,"
    the lawmaker said. Once Georgia and Azerbaijan are in the NATO,
    Armenia will remain the only country in the southern part of the
    Caucasus. It will also see the light sooner or later and "the circle
    will close." Military expert Uzeir Jafarov is of the same frame
    of mind.

    The latter expects the Alliance to ask Azerbaijan to make up its mind
    at the Riga summit. Jafarov pointed out that President Ilham Aliyev
    had never said anything definite on the subject on his latest visit
    to Brussels. NATO representatives always stressed, he said, that
    the willingness should be the country's own. "It is this willingness
    exactly that official Baku hasn't demonstrated," Jafarov said.

    As far as the expert is concerned, NATO leadership would like
    a clear answer from official Baku, and preferably positive. It
    is common knowledge after all, Jafarov said, that some countries
    including members of the OSCE Minsk Group deliberately interfere
    to delay resolution of the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict over
    Nagorno-Karabakh. Jafarov does not doubt that Azerbaijan will make
    up its mind in a couple of years, no more, and that it will probably
    aspire for membership in the Alliance.

    As for Azerbaijan's integration into NATO, Jafarov emphasized the
    necessity to bear in mind two important factors namely Russia and
    Iran. "Difficult as it may prove, the decision must be made. We
    cannot remain side. As things stand, we have only a vague desire to
    shift the army to NATO standards. Little has actually been done,
    because there is more to NATO standards and principles than, say,
    a different way of marching," Jafarov said.

    "Azerbaijan is unforgivably later with making a formal application
    for membership," Jafarov said. If membership in the Alliance is not
    what Baku is after, then what does it need the individual cooperation
    program, participation in seminars, and so on for?

    The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said yesterday that reorganization
    of the Armed Forces in line with NATO standards is currently under
    way. Ramiz Melikov, Chief of the Defense Ministry's Press Service,
    claims that the individual cooperation program is under way too. "The
    national army will conform to NATO standards once the program has
    been implemented," Melikov said.
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