Azerbaijani path

I have recently read a great many of articles and discussions of authors, who demand the immediate rejection of cooperation with Russia and accession into NATO.

This is a pure dilettantism. First of all, just because we may deprive ourselves of a political maneuver by our own actions. Second, we have a bright example of Georgia before us. And what?

I am sure that some will say that "time will come", "Sarkozy and Solana personally...". "NATO and EU have supported them and adopted three resolutions and held three conferences and two seminars at which they  strictly..." and so on.

By the way, people who today speak for breaking ties with someone and developing relations with others, were weeping with admiration for Georgia, saying "Georgians are brave that they could liberate their lands (as a completed fact) and ours are coward. However, these voiced lowered on August 9 and they became silent on August 10. Ander after a shock they started to present the aforementioned arguments later on.

I think these people will never give up. They do not understand that if everything could be settled so easily there would have never been a single conflict on the Earth. They do not understand that PR is a good support of the conducted policy. But PR can not substitute the policy. And constant interviews of Saakashvili to BBC and CNN would not compensate for the moral damage (let's put the economic one aside) caused to Georgia. And no resolutions or seminars would compensate for this damage.

I would note that Saakashvili's policy much reminds me of Anna Kurnikova, an average tennis player, without any significant results, though mass medias paid the greatest attention (and who now remembers her?) to her. Everyone choses his own way. Someone is on the front page of the newspapers with a real result and others become popular due to scandals).

Let's pass to a more urgent issue: who is waiting for us in NATO and, even so more, in EU? Do they constantly send telegrams to us? Do they ask us to join? As far as I know, they do not. Yes, official meetings and sessions of commissions are held. Yes, seminars and conferences are held to rejoice NATO. But there is nothing except for a polite indifference (Russia's extreme is different and its attitude is aggressive indifference).

Considering that no one is waiting for us there, do we have to knock at the doors, beg and demand? Do we have to spoil relations with Russia or Iran with an unknown result of our begging? Ukrainian and Georgian politicians (may them be successful in their NATO accession) did so, they had to knock at the oval office to be successful, but the result was zero. And there is no guarantee that any NATO country would once block rules for becoming members of the organization for our allies.

Now, about the remarkable Nabucco project, which is proposed to reduce Europe's dependence on Russian gas. Who may answer who is going to finance it? It is just being discussed and debated but there is nothing definite about it. Do we have to finance it or look for investments? Why do we need it?

There is a wish to build it, but it is not enough. Where are the projects, schemes or proposals? There are none of it. What would happen if there occur a thaw in the relations between Europe and Russia, while the project is being prepared and built? What will happen if the neighboring countries would refuse to allow gas by these project? And how will Turkey behave, considering that it has vitally important economic interests, bound to Russian supplies of energy sources? Who may guarantee that Turkey will not yield to Russia's gas blackmail, connected with the Blue flow project? There are numerous questions, which have no response. It is absolutely inadmissible to settle these issues by a cavalry mount.

Not a single person would naturally propose to become friends with Russia.

It becomes clear that in the said geopolitical and geoeconomic situation, the best way is today's policy, conducted by president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, which is a policy of equidistance, correct neutrality, based on the principles of international law and, naturally, the ability to wait with patience, protecting the vital interests of our country.

Impulsiveness in policy, especially, in external policy is the worst partner and the example of the neighbors is a bright evidence of it.

Anar Mamedkhanov
Deputy of Milli Medjlis