NATO cancels exercises in Baku

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Sept 16 2004

NATO Supreme Command has decided to cancel the long-planned exercise
in Baku hours before it was due to start on Tuesday after Azerbaijan’s
authorities refused to allow officers from Armenia to participate. The
alliance spokesman in Brussels said in a written

statement that the exercises were called off due to the non-observance
to the principle of “inclusiveness” for all allies and partners,
under which all NATO exercises are conducted. The announcement
came after a wave of protests over the weekend in Baku against the
Armenian officers’ intended participation in the two-week exercises,
entitled Cooperative Best Effort. President Ilham Aliyev said last
week he opposed the Armenian officers’ visit and was taking necessary
measures to prevent it.

“There is hardly anyone in Azerbaijan who would accept Armenian
officers’ visiting the country. I therefore object to their arrival in
Azerbaijan. Armenia has occupied our land and violated Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity. Only after this aggression ends can our
relations become normal and conditions be created for journalists
and public figures to meet. Until the conflict is settled, any
communication is out of the question.” The United States has
criticized Azerbaijan for excluding Armenia from participation in
the exercises. The State Department said it supports NATO’s decision
to cancel the exercises and that it “deeply regrets” Azerbaijan’s
refusal not to issue visas for Armenian participants.

Public outcry

For the first time in many years, the Azerbaijani people share
unity of views. Regardless of party affiliation, positions or views,
the public has voiced a joint protest against the Armenian officers’
planned arrival. Garabagh Liberation Organization members, hundreds of
non-government organizations (NGOs), war veterans, and refugees held
numerous protest actions in Baku. Influential news media, including
independent ANS TV, expressed their protests by suspending broadcasts
for several hours. Over 10 newspapers voiced their indignation with
the Armenian officers’ planned visit by publishing their front pages
blank. Parliament members also expressed their protests with the
Armenian officers’ planned visit. Several MPs refused to attend a
parliament session last week in this connection. Defense Minister
Safar Abiyev said he strongly objects to Armenians’ intended arrival,
since there are no relations between the two countries. “Armenia
does not recognize Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and would not
give up its territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan and
Armenia have no diplomatic relations, therefore, participation of
Armenian military men in the exercises in Baku is inappropriate.” He
also mentioned that Azerbaijan refused to attend NATO exercises held
in Armenia last year. Caucasus clerical leader Sheikh Allahshukur
Pashazada also said that he opposes the Armenian officers’ visit. “I
do not support their arrival”, he said. With regard to the protest
actions conducted by the Azerbaijani public, Pashazada said that
“every citizen has rights and is entitled to using them”.

Opinion

Former Foreign Minister, political analyst Tofig Zulfugarov said such
a biased decision was made by NATO disregarding the real situation
in the region. He said that although this step was undesirable for
Azerbaijan, it gave some food for thought to those making decisions on
holding international events in Azerbaijan. “Azerbaijan is a victim
of aggression, and ignoring this is a mistake by the forces trying
to cover up the occupation of Azerbaijan’s land and the presence of
hundreds of thousands of refugees. I believe that NATO Secretary
General’s decision was erroneous.” Zulfugarov went on to say that
Azerbaijan’s refusal to allow Armenian officers to enter the country
is explained by the current situation in the region. The reaction of
the Azerbaijani public to a possible presence of Armenian citizens in
the country was natural, he said. “However, I believe this situation
will yield certain positive results to Azerbaijan, which has shown
a firm stance on the issue. This position should be considered by
NATO and other international entities in the future.” Nonetheless,
the political analyst did not rule out a future decline in relations
between Azerbaijan and NATO, in particular, the United States.

Concern

The Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Tuesday expressing its
concern with the cancellation of NATO’s “Cooperative Best Effort-2004”
exercises. Azerbaijan regards the exercises as an important step in
its integration into the Euro-Atlantic community and had created all
the suitable conditions to hold the exercises in Baku, the statement
says. The document also outlines the reasons for the Azeri public’s
protest against the planned visit by Armenian military men to Baku. “As
a result of Armenia’s aggression, 20% of Azerbaijan’s territory
was occupied and more than one million people became refugees and
internally displaced persons. The government of Armenia is taking
a non-constructive position in peace talks, therefore, the Armenian
officers’ participation in the exercises in Baku is impossible,” the
statement says. The statement also expressed Azerbaijan’s adherence
to Euro-Atlantic values and principles, its commitment to cooperation
with the North Atlantic Alliance, and a hope for further development
of long-term and fruitful partnership.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress