Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Azerbaijan is a strategic partner of Serbia. The country has positioned itself as a place where East and West come together, according to an article posted on Serbia’s RTS channel website.

The channel highlighted Azerbaijan’s and Serbia’s as countries ensuring harmony between East and West.

“These two countries, as it was before in history, are facing the same challenges and risks. Each of them carries out an independent foreign policy consistent with the interests of their people. Each of them has its own experience of turning a difficult geographical location into the positive opportunities, in terms of ensuring harmony between East and West that ultimately, in the interests of each of them,” according to Serbian media.

Azerbaijan, as the largest country in the South Caucasus is geographically located at the crossroads of transport routes between East and West. However, only a geographical location is not enough to contribute to unification of the East and West. The successful policy implemented in the country during many years has played an important role in increasing of strategic importance of country.

For playing the role of a bridge between the East and West, Azerbaijan has passed a long history from establishment of first democratic republic in the East to gaining independence in 1991 after the breakup of the Soviet regime.

Despite the facts that early years of independence were difficult for the country as it faced many challenges, such as internal disturbances, the Armenian aggression and occupation 20 percent of territories, Azerbaijan managed to develop in a short period of time.

After national leader Heydar Aliyev came to power, comprehensive reforms were implemented in the country. This laid foundation for successful development of the country that is now mentioned as a role model in the world.

The bitter experience of Azerbaijan in the early 90s confirmed that there cannot be democratic development without stability, according to the Serbian channel.

“The stability of the Azerbaijanis became the most highly touted public benefit. The stability has become an integral part of the global security concept of Azerbaijan,” according to the article.

Currently, society under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev the Azerbaijani state continues its path of stable democratic and economic development.

Azerbaijan managed to avoid a cataclysm in the economic sphere and in the political terms, thanks to the wise policy of its leadership.

“This policy can be characterized as aimed at favorable stability in a complex and changing world by maintaining a balance between the democratic and economic development of society and the needs of the state in the field of security. Such an approach to development combines the continuation of informed choice in the application of democratic values by the secular Muslim state, without giving up the wisdom, patience and the decision by evolutionary problems inherent to the East,” according to Serbian channel.

Despite playing a bridging role between the East and West, Azerbaijan is satisfied with the usual role of interconnector and is making efforts for combining the East and West. This is occurs through the policies and values created by Azerbaijan.

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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SaraRajabova

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