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NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT LINES UP WITH BAKU
Elmira Tariverdiyeva
Vestnik Kavkaza
May 15 2012
Russia
The complete document adopted at the session of foreign ministries
of the member-states of the Non-Aligned Movement was considered by
Baku as a great achievement. Last May, Azerbaijan became a member
of the movement. The document supports a peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with respect of internationally recognized
borders. The 382 points of the document - a result of the meeting
of ministries of the Coordinating Bureau of the movement - are very
important for Baku. The fact that a second international organization
after the UN has recognized the occupation of Azerbaijani territory
by Armenia is the result of Azerbaijani diplomats' efforts.
Moreover, for the first time 120 countries directly stated that the
conflict exists between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but not inside of
Azerbaijan, as many representatives of the Armenian side want to
present it. It is not the first document that judges Azerbaijani
territory to be occupied. The UN Charter, the OSCE Final Act adopted
in Helsinki and the document adopted at the Bandung Conference reflect
the basic principles of the Non-Aligned Movement and speak of the
inadmissibility of aggression against the territorial integrity,
sovereignty, and political independence of countries. Azerbaijani
diplomats are trying to include the principle into the documents of
international organizations.
The foreign minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mamedyarov, stated that
support of the Non-Aligned Movement "proves that the international
community won't accept Armenia's aggression against the sovereignty
and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan." Commenting on Mamedyarov's
statement, the foreign minister of Armenia, Edvard Nalbandyan,
said that it was propaganda. Armenia, which has observer status in
the NAM, tried to prevent adoption of the document. According to
the official representative of the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan,
Elman Abdullayev, "Armenia tried to replace the phrase "the conflict
between Armenia and Azerbaijan" by "the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict"
and tried to eliminate the principles of respect for the sovereignty
and territorial integrity of countries and the inviolability of the
borders recognized by the international community." However, the item
initiated by Azerbaijan was adopted without any changes.
When Azerbaijan stated its decision to join the NAM a year ago,
many observers were surprised, but it appears to be a smart step by
the Baku authorities. Participation in the movement played its role
in the election of Azerbaijan as a non-permanent member of the UN
Security Council.
Azerbaijan's participation in the NAM shows the world that the
country's position is friendly neutrality and unwillingness to join
any blocs. Baku doesn't intend to "make friends against anybody."
Azerbaijan exists at a crossroads of geopolitical interests of world
and regional powers and builds a multi-vector policy and balance in
foreign policy. At the same time, membership in the movement doesn't
prevent integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures, which
is still Baku's target. However, at the moment Azerbaijan is not
aiming to join NATO or any other military bloc, because integration
doesn't mean membership.
Elmira Tariverdiyeva
Vestnik Kavkaza
May 15 2012
Russia
The complete document adopted at the session of foreign ministries
of the member-states of the Non-Aligned Movement was considered by
Baku as a great achievement. Last May, Azerbaijan became a member
of the movement. The document supports a peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with respect of internationally recognized
borders. The 382 points of the document - a result of the meeting
of ministries of the Coordinating Bureau of the movement - are very
important for Baku. The fact that a second international organization
after the UN has recognized the occupation of Azerbaijani territory
by Armenia is the result of Azerbaijani diplomats' efforts.
Moreover, for the first time 120 countries directly stated that the
conflict exists between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but not inside of
Azerbaijan, as many representatives of the Armenian side want to
present it. It is not the first document that judges Azerbaijani
territory to be occupied. The UN Charter, the OSCE Final Act adopted
in Helsinki and the document adopted at the Bandung Conference reflect
the basic principles of the Non-Aligned Movement and speak of the
inadmissibility of aggression against the territorial integrity,
sovereignty, and political independence of countries. Azerbaijani
diplomats are trying to include the principle into the documents of
international organizations.
The foreign minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mamedyarov, stated that
support of the Non-Aligned Movement "proves that the international
community won't accept Armenia's aggression against the sovereignty
and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan." Commenting on Mamedyarov's
statement, the foreign minister of Armenia, Edvard Nalbandyan,
said that it was propaganda. Armenia, which has observer status in
the NAM, tried to prevent adoption of the document. According to
the official representative of the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan,
Elman Abdullayev, "Armenia tried to replace the phrase "the conflict
between Armenia and Azerbaijan" by "the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict"
and tried to eliminate the principles of respect for the sovereignty
and territorial integrity of countries and the inviolability of the
borders recognized by the international community." However, the item
initiated by Azerbaijan was adopted without any changes.
When Azerbaijan stated its decision to join the NAM a year ago,
many observers were surprised, but it appears to be a smart step by
the Baku authorities. Participation in the movement played its role
in the election of Azerbaijan as a non-permanent member of the UN
Security Council.
Azerbaijan's participation in the NAM shows the world that the
country's position is friendly neutrality and unwillingness to join
any blocs. Baku doesn't intend to "make friends against anybody."
Azerbaijan exists at a crossroads of geopolitical interests of world
and regional powers and builds a multi-vector policy and balance in
foreign policy. At the same time, membership in the movement doesn't
prevent integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures, which
is still Baku's target. However, at the moment Azerbaijan is not
aiming to join NATO or any other military bloc, because integration
doesn't mean membership.