for-baku-to-start-lobbying-in-europe-2009-10-26
I t’s time for Baku to start lobbying in Europe
Monday, October 26, 2009
The first lobbying effort of Azerbaijan vis-a-vis the Turkish public took
place a few days prior to April 24, when it was becoming evident that Turkey
and Armenia would issue a statement on a road map detailing the way to
normalize relations between the two countries.
Probably, the Azerbaijani government wanted to reflect its disenchantment of
the deal that was being worked out, through official channels and hoped to
handle the issue through contacts from government to government.
Yet when it realized that its official contacts were proving unsuccessful to
stop Ankara from reaching a deal without taking into account Azerbaijan’s
reservations, it recoursed to public diplomacy.
Half a dozen female lawmakers, some looking like fashion models, came to
Ankara to visit Turkish lawmakers as well as government officials. But, this
is an outdated way of lobbying.
Even Gazprom has got rid of the communist way of doing business and hired a
professional firm for its public relations in Europe as well as Turkey.
In Baku you can see the political nomenclature driving super luxurious cars,
them and their wives wearing the world’s most expensive brands. Yet it is
not those brand names that are going to lobby on behalf of the Azerbaijani
government.
No one is suggesting that they should stop spending on luxurious brands.
This is just to prove that Baku has enough financial resources to spend for
an issue that is vital to its national interests.
It is high time for Baku to adopt a professional approach for lobbying. That
new professional effort should not only target Turkey but the European
capitals, as well as Washington.
There is not one capital in Europe that does not welcome the
Turkish-Armenian reconciliation process. Thus, it is very difficult for
Azerbaijan to generate sympathy across Europe and the United States about
its objections to the process unless it finds the ways to pass its message
at the right time, the right place with the right arguments. And Azerbaijan
does not lack arguments to make its case.
If Europe needs to reduce its energy dependence to Russia, and if indeed
this policy of diversification of suppliers as well as transport routes is
supported by the United States, then they should realize that Azerbaijani
oil and gas are vital to the implementation of such a policy. Azerbaijan
cannot just sit and watch the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations
without progress on the Nagorno-Karabakh problem and conclude energy deals
with Europe as if nothing contrary to the interests of Azerbaijan has taken
place.
Azerbaijan should not advocate a pause in the Turkish-Armenian
reconciliation. But it should ask for the reactivation of diplomatic efforts
to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. European capitals can strongly
encourage Yerevan for a compromise solution.
For years, Armenians have been forgotten by Europeans. An active support
from European capitals will decrease their sense of isolation in the region,
their sense of fear vis-a-vis Turkey and increase their confidence which
might facilitate the search for a compromise. European capitals as well as
Washington can also play an important role in reaching to Armenian diaspora
to curb their opposition and have them support the process of normalization
with Turkey as well as Azerbaijan.
In short, Baku should give up traditional ways of doing business and start
spending its petrodollars on the right thing.