Brussels-based European Policy Center releases report on Azerbaijan
Baku, April 7 (AZERTAC). The Brussels-based European Policy Center released its report on Azerbaijan entitled "Eastern Promises Event Summary Azerbaijan and the Euro-Atlantic security architecture". As part of its Eastern Promises Project, on March 16, the EPC organised a roundtable discussion on "Azerbaijan and the Euro-Atlantic security architecture”. The speakers included HE Khazar Ibrahim, Head of the Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan to NATO, James Appathurai, NATO Secretary General`s Special Representative for the South Caucasus and Central Asia, Dennis Sammut, Executive Director of the London Information Network on Conflicts and State-Building (LINKS), and Peter Semneby, Former EU Special Representative to the South Caucasus. The event was moderated by EPC Analyst, Amanda Paul.
The report released by the European Policy Center notes that Azerbaijan is situated at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, Russia and the Middle East and is therefore something of a geostrategic pivot.
Azerbaijan has always endeavored to have an independent, multidimensional, balanced, and pragmatic foreign policy which has included strengthening cooperation with West, in particular with the Euro-Atlantic institutions. The country`s leadership views the deepening of the Euro-Atlantic dimension of its foreign policy as an important step in a process aimed at improving democracy, security, stability, economic and social prosperity in the country.
Nowadays, Azerbaijan is fully committed to and making sustained efforts for maintaining international peace, security and stability. Since 1999 Azerbaijan has made sizable military contributions to NATO Missions in Kosovo (KFOR), Iraq and Afghanistan (ISAF). Azerbaijan is also a major transit route for ISAF and an emerging training hub. As one of the most active NATO Partner Nations on energy security, Azerbaijan is expanding its cooperation with NATO, including inter-alia the areas of emerging security challenges, counter-terrorism, civil emergency planning, defense reforms and public diplomacy.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with neighbour Armenia remains a significant threat to regional security. Karabakh is an internationally recognized region of Azerbaijan but is presently under Armenian control, with seven surrounding regions under Armenian occupation. Peace talks are being carried out under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group. The conflict is a challenge for the entire Euro-Atlantic security architecture because a new war would almost certainly spill over into the entire region. Therefore, a resolution to the conflict remains a priority task for Azerbaijan`s leadership. NATO supports efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict. It is important to understand why the OSCE Minsk Group has not been successful in helping bring about a solution, and to find a more creative approach to make its work more effective.
Azerbaijan has proven itself as an indispensable and secure energy partner for Europe and beyond. Azerbaijan committed itself to the European energy security. Since 1994 Azerbaijan has been playing a role of a locomotive in promotion and implementation of a number of energy and transportation projects, which contribute to the regional cooperation and integration.
The European Policy Centre`s Eastern Promises programme is the leading Brussels forum for debate and discussion regarding the EU`s Eastern Neighbourhood. The EPC`s extensive network of experts and contacts allows Eastern Promises to attract the most influential figures and experts from the region, as well as from the EU and beyond. Eastern Promises focuses in particular on the EU`s Eastern neighbours (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine) through a series of public meetings, roundtables of experts and publications.
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