MILITARY DOCTRINE ‘FLEXIBLE AND LONG-TERM’
news.az
June 4 2010
Azerbaijan
Fuad Alasgarov News.Az interviews Fuad Alasgarov, head of the
Presidential Administration’s department for work with law-enforcement
agencies.
The long-awaited draft military doctrine is a major topic of
discussion. Why has it taken so long to develop the doctrine?
First, I would like to say that the working group on national
security policy that started work on the national security concept
was created by order of the president of Azerbaijan in 2004. On 23
May 2007 Mr President ratified the national security concept. This
concept is the basis for the preparation of the military doctrine,
foreign policy strategy and concepts on the economy, culture, science,
education, health, transport and so on. Considering this, the working
group was instructed to develop the draft military doctrine and
other documents envisaged in the national security concept. This
entailed a huge amount of work covering almost every aspect of the
country’s life. The draft military doctrine was recently submitted
by Mr President to the Milli Majlis.
The military doctrine is a very serious document that defines the
conceptual basis of the military security system to provide protection
from internal and external threats. The doctrine is also an integral
part of the national security concept. Such a serious document demanded
extremely careful development. In addition, similar documents in
other countries and the results of their application were studied in
preparing the doctrine. The best way to ensure Azerbaijan’s military
security had to be selected.
One opinion in the press is that the doctrine is vague and does not
indicate allies and enemies, except for Armenia. What can you say
about that?
Certainly, no one can deny that the current occupation of Azerbaijani
lands by Armenia is the main factor that has a negative influence on
the national security of Azerbaijan. Moreover, the Armenian occupation
is the main real military threat to our country. Therefore, this
circumstance is reflected in the draft military doctrine.
As for allies and enemies, I would like to say that the draft doctrine
takes the approach that defence policy depends not on our sympathies
for any states, but on the national interests of Azerbaijan and
considers threats to these interests. This approach – the definition
of responses to challenges – helps make the doctrine flexible and
long-term. This is a very important document. The draft doctrine, like
most of its foreign equivalents, sets out that the document is open to
amendments and specifications to reflect the dynamics of the security
environment. At the same time, the experience of other countries shows
that usually conceptual documents, including military doctrines, are
renewed after a certain period, five to ten years on average. Within
this period, the doctrine must remain relevant while a focus on
constant and long-term interests of the country helps achieve this.
Also, it is necessary to note that the military doctrine along with
the national security concept form the basis for the preparation of
a strategic defence review and other conceptual documents that will
further specify and develop the clauses of the concept and doctrine.
Overall, according to the national security concept, Azerbaijan is
interested in building friendly relations with all countries on the
basis of recognized norms of international law through a multi-level,
balanced foreign policy. In other words, we are interested in friendly
ties with the remaining countries.
Considering the events of recent years in the region, there is a
view that, as a result of geopolitical changes, yesterday’s partner
may become today’s enemy and, in this respect, commentators say that
potential foreign threats should have been indicated.
The doctrine quite clearly defines the threats, the military and
strategic basis of military security, the main objectives of the
armed forces in peace time, in war and during a real threat of war
and the direction and prospects for military construction.
Foreign military and political threats include the continuing
occupation of Azerbaijani land by Armenian armed forces; possible
foreign military interference in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan;
foreign military dependence; territorial claims of neighbouring
states; action to destabilize the domestic political and socioeconomic
situation, including support for separatist and extremist religious
movements, the infiltration of Azerbaijan by illegal armed groups
and preparation of terrorists to infiltrate Azerbaijan from other
countries; the participation of neighbouring states in interstate
conflicts, the existence of domestic conflicts, military operations,
armed riots or any other forms of military or military and political
instability in these countries; the violation of the regional military
balance or exceeding the level of defence sufficiency, as well as
the creation of military bases, the concentration of troop groupings,
arms and the consolidation of other forms of military presence near the
state borders and territorial waters of Azerbaijan; the violation of
the state border of Azerbaijan by military groups and armed divisions,
the worsening of border disputes or conflicts; and the proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction and new military technology.
The deployment of foreign troops has also provoked fierce debate. In
what cases can foreign troops be deployed in Azerbaijan?
Except for cases envisaged in international agreements, to which
Azerbaijan is party, the draft doctrine does not allow the stationing
of foreign bases in our country. At the same time, should there be
profound changes in the military and political situation, Azerbaijan
reserves the right to grant temporary permission to the location
of foreign military bases on its territory or to foreign military
participation in any other form.
For example, in the event of war against Azerbaijan?
Yes, this is included too.
Integration with Euro-Atlantic structures is said not to be indicated
as a strategic goal, though it is contained in the national security
concept. What can you say about it? What kind of relations will we
have with NATO?
I would like to repeat that the military doctrine is derived from the
national security concept and part of it. In setting out defence policy
in peace time, the doctrine also envisages bilateral and multilateral
military and political cooperation with partner countries. Considering
the principle of the indivisibility of security and the fact that
our region is an integral part of the Euro-Atlantic area, Azerbaijan
supports efforts to create the security system in this area and
continues cooperation with NATO on the basis of mutual interest,
as has already been defined in the draft military doctrine.
Can you flesh out the trends and prospects for military construction
reflected in the draft military doctrine?
The military doctrine is, of course, a document based on the current
realities and intended for the future. Therefore, most attention is
paid to the prospects for military construction. The priorities include
raising the effectiveness of command and management structures of the
armed forces and other armed formations, the gradual transfer to the
staffing of other armed formations on a predominantly professional
basis, the assimilation of skills in modern defensive and offensive
operations and raising the effectiveness of coordination between the
armed forces and other armed formations. It’s also worth mentioning
improving the social protection of servicemen amongst the other
priorities. Of course, I have mentioned only some priorities.
The draft doctrine lays special emphasis on the policy of provision,
formation and development of Azerbaijan’s military industrial complex.
The main trends for the development of the military-industrial complex
include ensuring maximum independence in meeting the requirements of
the armed forces and other armed formations for defence production
and ensuring the competitiveness of the local military-industrial
complex on foreign markets, that is, developing the export potential
of our military-industrial complex.
From: A. Papazian