New Azeri Military Doctrine Sees Karabakh Independence as
Wednesday, June 9th, 2010
by Asbarez
BAKU (Combined Sources)-Azerbaijan’s parliament on June 8 approved by
a vote of 110 in favor, with two against and one abstention, a draft
military doctrine that is intended to complement the National Security
Doctrine ratified by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in May 2007.
The draft doctrine was first submitted to parliament three years ago,
but ratification was repeatedly delayed, and it was apparently amended
in the wake of the Russian-Georgian war of August 2008.
The doctrine lists the perceived main threats facing the Azerbaijan
Republic; the military and strategic basis of national security; the
main objectives of the armed forces both in war and in peacetime; and
the prospects for further strengthening the country’s military
potential, presidential administration official Fuad Alesqerov told
news.az on June 4.
The first of those threats, according to Alesqerov, is the
independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. In that context, the
doctrine affirms that `any political, military, economic, or other
support provided to the Republic of Armenia and to the separatist
regime created with Armenia’s support on Azerbaijani territory with
the aim of [securing] official recognition of the results of
occupation will be interpreted as an act directed against the
Azerbaijan Republic.’
Other threats enumerated by Alesqerov include possible foreign
military interference in Azerbaijan’s internal affairs; claims by
neighboring states on Azerbaijani territory; actions aimed at
destabilizing the domestic political and economic situation, including
support for separatist and extremist religious movements; and the
infiltration of illegal armed groups and terrorists into Azerbaijan.
`Azerbaijan jamaat’ was among the militant groups listed as having
sent a representative to a meeting on May 30 of subdivisions in
Azerbaijan of the North Caucasus insurgency.
Alesqerov also mentions `violation of the regional military balance,’
or the deployment of troops close to Azerbaijan’s state borders or
territorial waters; participation of neighboring states in interstate
conflicts (i.e. a replay of the August 2008 Russian-Georgian war); and
`the existence of domestic conflicts or armed riots,’ implying that
the state reserves the right to use military force against its own
citizens. Azerbaijani officials never miss an opportunity to condemn
Armenia for having done precisely that in the wake of the disputed
February 2008 presidential election.
An article published in the September 26-October 2, 2007, edition of
`Voyenno-Promyshlenny Kurer’ enumerates further threats that figured
in the initial draft doctrine, including attacks on sites of military
or economic importance (presumably meaning in the first instance oil
and gas export pipelines and pumping stations); organized crime,
terrorism, and smuggling; and information warfare.
The doctrine affirms that Azerbaijan has no intention of beginning
military operations against any other state unless it becomes `the
victim of aggression.’ It also rules out war as a means of pressure on
the independence of other states, or as a means to resolve
international conflicts.
The doctrine does not provide for the deployment on Azerbaijani soil
of foreign military bases, except in circumstances envisaged by
international treaties that Azerbaijan has ratified. Nor does it list
as a strategic goal integration with Euro-Atlantic structures. That
omission is hardly surprising in light of Azerbaijan’s clear lack of
interest, despite statements to the contrary, in joining NATO.
By contrast, the initial draft doctrine summarized by
`Voyenno-Promyshlenny kurer’ singled out as of specific significance
military cooperation with Turkey, with NATO, and with fellow GUAM
member states (Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova).
Zahid Orudj, who is a parliament deputy and deputy chairman of the
pro-regime Ana Veten party, pointed out to Caucasus Knot that the
final version of the doctrine does not name Turkey (or any other
state) as an ally. That failure can possibly be attributed to Baku’s
profound anger at Turkey’s initial moves last year towards
rapprochement with Armenia.
As for GUAM, Georgia is presumably no longer considered a reliable
strategic partner in the wake of the miscalculation that precipitated
the August 2008 war. Since Viktor Yanukovych’s election in January as
president of Ukraine, Kyiv has abandoned its pro-Western foreign
policy, and Moldova has opted for neutrality.
The final doctrine does, however, still affirm Azerbaijan’s continued
willingness to cooperate with NATO.
A working group was tasked with drafting the military doctrine in
2004, shortly after Ilham Aliyev’s election as president. Why it has
taken so long for the parliament, in which the ruling Yeni Azerbaycan
Party holds the overwhelming majority of the 120 mandates, to vote on
it is not clear. Parliament First Deputy Speaker Ziyafet Askerov was
quoted by day.az on December 23, 2006, as saying the doctrine would be
approved during the spring 2007 parliament session. It was not.
When he signed the National Security Concept in May 2007, President
Aliyev gave the government three months in which to complete the
Military Doctrine and present it to parliament, according to
echo-az.com on February 15, 2008.
The draft doctrine was submitted to NATO for feedback, and on October
17, 2007, Askerov told the same news agency it `is already ready’ and
would be voted on during the fall parliament session. But the vote did
not take place.
On February 5, 2008, Askerov told day.az that the parliament had
received the draft doctrine and would vote on it during the spring
session. But in early July, he told fellow parliamentarians that it
had not been endorsed due to the changing geo-political situation,
according to echo-az.com on July 15, 2008. He added that the doctrine
would, nonetheless, be adopted during the fall parliament session.
In February 2009, Lieutenant-General Vahid Aliyev, who is Aliyev’s
military advisor, told Azerbaijan Press Agency that the doctrine
`might’ be submitted to parliament for debate during the spring
session. That statement suggests that the initial draft may have been
withdrawn and revised following the August 2008 Russian-Georgian war.
Four months later, on June 18, 2009, the online daily zerkalo.az
quoted a NATO liaison officer as saying that the military doctrine `is
almost ready’ and could be submitted to parliament for discussion
during the fall session.
From: A. Papazian