Baku values NATO co-op but accession no target: researcher
Azerbaijan attaches special importance to its
cooperation with NATO but has no intention to seek admission to the
alliance in the near future, a leading Azerbaijani researcher
says.
"Azerbaijan aspires to integrate into the Euro-Atlantic area. However, the country’s standing national security concept contains no provisions on NATO membership," Elman Nasirov, who heads the Political Research Center of the State Administration Academy under the President, told a conference, "Azerbaijan’s European integration: problems and prospects", in Baku on Tuesday.
Nasirov went on to explain the reasons underlying his conclusion. Given that Georgia faced severe pressure from Russia after announcing its bid for accession to the military bloc, if Azerbaijan states its intention to do so, it could encounter a threat from the south as well, as the South Caucasus republic also shares a border with Iran. Nasirov said Azerbaijan’s integration into NATO primarily requires shaping of a public opinion on the issue.
Asim Mollazada, the Democratic Reform Party chairman, said Azerbaijan is ready for integration into NATO, but the alliance is not ready for admitting new members at this point. The challenges faced by Georgia and Ukraine once again proved that the Azerbaijani government is adhering to an absolutely proper stance on the issue, he said.
Mollazada noted, further, that differences of opinion are seen within NATO about its future. He believes some European countries’ seeking energy cooperation with Russia is overshadowing NATO’s interests.
"Azerbaijan will be ready for NATO membership only when NATO, itself, will become prepared for this," the party leader added.*
"Azerbaijan aspires to integrate into the Euro-Atlantic area. However, the country’s standing national security concept contains no provisions on NATO membership," Elman Nasirov, who heads the Political Research Center of the State Administration Academy under the President, told a conference, "Azerbaijan’s European integration: problems and prospects", in Baku on Tuesday.
Nasirov went on to explain the reasons underlying his conclusion. Given that Georgia faced severe pressure from Russia after announcing its bid for accession to the military bloc, if Azerbaijan states its intention to do so, it could encounter a threat from the south as well, as the South Caucasus republic also shares a border with Iran. Nasirov said Azerbaijan’s integration into NATO primarily requires shaping of a public opinion on the issue.
Asim Mollazada, the Democratic Reform Party chairman, said Azerbaijan is ready for integration into NATO, but the alliance is not ready for admitting new members at this point. The challenges faced by Georgia and Ukraine once again proved that the Azerbaijani government is adhering to an absolutely proper stance on the issue, he said.
Mollazada noted, further, that differences of opinion are seen within NATO about its future. He believes some European countries’ seeking energy cooperation with Russia is overshadowing NATO’s interests.
"Azerbaijan will be ready for NATO membership only when NATO, itself, will become prepared for this," the party leader added.*
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