FEBRUARY 2020

BULLETIN H I G H L I G H TS O F T H E F O R E I G N P O L I C Y OF T H E R E P U B L I C O F A Z E R B A I J A N

Table of contents

I. Extraordinary Meeting of Turkic Council Members

2

II. Azerbaijan Parliamentary Elections

3

III. and held a public debate in Munich Security Conference

4

IV. The International Conference “IDP Women’s Call for Justice: Addressing Their Needs in Peace and Security Agenda”, organized by the AIR Center

5

V. Italy-Azerbaijan Relations

6

2 Council – Uzbekistan, Kyrgysztan is I. Extraordinary Meeting of Turkic planning to be the part of huge railway Council Members project with China. This railway project On 6 February 2020, an extraordinary could potentially be the key piece in the meeting of the foreign ministers of the central route connecting China with Iran- Turkic Council member countries was Turkey-Europe. As Azerbaijan is held in Baku. Participants discussed the implementing significant transport and relationship between the Turkic Council railway projects and gaining the interest member countries as well as the of China, the foreign ministers also cooperation with non-member discussed the possibility of creating more countries. They also focused on ways of opportunities for Kyrgyzstan to become empowering the Turkic Council, involved in regional transport corridors strengthening the administrative basis of by developing railway projects. its Secretariat, alongside discussing long- Further, Mr. Mammadyarov met with his terms strategies of the Council that counterpart from Uzbekistan, Abdulaziz entails the initiation of Turkic Investment Kamilov. They focused on the Fund (TIF), Turkic Trade Houses (TTH), partnerships in economy, trade, and etc. The Ministers also committed to transportation, and culture. Two a strategic program on long-term goals countries already have close of the Organization based on Turkic relationships which have developed into Vision 2025. the level of strategic partnerships in On the margins of the event Mr. Elmar recent years. Especially, Uzbekistan’s Mammadyarov, the Foreign Minister of stance on -Azerbaijan conflict the Republic of Azerbaijan, held number was obvious from the first of day of of bilateral meetings. On 5 March he met conflict. Mr. with Baghdad Amreyev, the Secretary thanked Mr. Kamilov for Uzbekistan’s General of the Cooperation Council of principled position in the international Turkic-Speaking States. During the arena on Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. meeting, Mr. Mammadyarov and Mr. Additionally, there was a meeting Amreyev discussed the agenda for the between Mr. Mammadyarov and his meeting of the foreign ministers of the Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu. Turkic Council member countries. The parties emphasized the close During the meeting with Chingiz relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey Aydarbekov, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the importance of these two of the Kyrgyz Republic, the sides countries’ participation in the regional discussed bilateral relations and ways to projects. Mr. Mammadyarov also strengthen these relations. Together updated Mr. Cavusoglu about the with another member of the Turkic meeting with the Armenian foreign

Mirza İbrahimov 8, Baku, AZ1005, Azerbaijan, Phone: (+994 12) 596-82-39, (+994 12) 596-82-41, E-mail: [email protected]

3 minister in Geneva. parties) were registered in the race for 125 seats in the Azerbaijani Milli Mejlis. Before the meeting of the foreign The opinions of international observers, ministers, Mr. Cavusoglu was received by such as BSEC PA, CIS Observation President Aliyev and awarded with the Mission, TURKPA, Observation Mission “Dostlug” Order for his special services of the GUAM Parliamentary Assembly, rendered by the strengthening of OIC Election Observation Mission, and friendship and cooperation between the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic the European Union spoke positively of Turkey. about the entire election process, including the OSCE ODIHR, which Only a few days before this meeting, compared to previous years along with the Turkish citizens demonstrated a more balanced and Azerbaijani citizens were also safely objective view. Azerbaijan is evolving evacuated to Turkey from China due to and the mood of its population is positive the coronavirus outbreak. and elated.

Concerning the elections, the II. Azerbaijan Parliamentary government of Azerbaijan, Ministry of Elections Foreign Affairs released a statement containing the following: On 9 February 2020, snap elections took place to the Milli Mejlis (Parliament) of The highest number of registered the Republic of Azerbaijan. candidates in the elections so far - 1314 candidates - have been running for the 9 February became important date in parliament and this indicates the Azerbaijan as the country chose its new comprehensiveness and fairness of the parliament. The voting was conducted in candidate registration process, as well as 5,573 polling stations and 50 per cent of the competitive electoral environment. the candidates were under 40 years old. The elections were also marked by such The elections were also widely covered moments as a significant increase in the and 132 foreign media outlets from 47 number of registered women candidates countries observed and covered the compared to the previous elections, elections. 900 international observers ensuring broad pluralism with the from 59 international organizations and representation of candidates from 19 78000 local observers representing political parties (mfa.gov.az, 02/2020). political parties and civil society were accredited to monitor the parliamentary It should be recognized that the IEOM elections. 1314 candidates report also recognized that “The election (independents and representatives of 19 administration was well resourced and

Mirza İbrahimov 8, Baku, AZ1005, Azerbaijan, Phone: (+994 12) 596-82-39, (+994 12) 596-82-41, E-mail: [email protected]

4 met legal deadlines, and the Central at the Davos Forum, but the Armenian Election Commission made concerted leader decided not to attend the efforts to act transparently and was discussion at the last moment. In this welcoming towards international type of conflicts, it is important to bring observers.” Additionally, the the sides together and create platforms government of Azerbaijan noted that the for them to discuss the issues before the vast majority of reviews from observers international community. However, this were positive. In a meeting between fact demonstrates that Armenian side Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and tried to keep the status-quo by avoiding the head of the CIS observation mission, discussions and not joining these kinds of “It was emphasized that all conditions events, while the Azerbaijani side seeks a had been created in Azerbaijan for peaceful solution to the conflict and conducting these elections in a fair and believes discussions facilitate the conflict democratic environment (president.az, resolution. 02/2020).” During the debate over the historical Azerbaijan is experiencing a very status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region transformational phase in its history and of Azerbaijan, President Aliyev gave a the election of a new parliament is just solid historical background of the the logical continuation of the region’s history and its relationship to evolutionary reform process of the Azerbaijan. Mr. Aliyev encouraged the country. audience to check the facts, to affirm the validity of his statements. President Aliyev also spoke of Armenian aggression towards Azerbaijanis living in Armenia, III. Ilham Aliyev and Nikol Pashinyan who were forcefully deported in 1987- held a public debate in Munich 88. He also stressed that Armenian Security Conference troops perpetrated ethnic cleansings On 15 February 2020, Ilham Aliyev, against the Azerbaijani people in the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, occupied Azerbaijani lands, such as in the and Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of case of the Khojaly genocide of 26 Armenia, held a public debate during the February 1992. Munich Security Conference. It was the first public discussion between the two There was a debate over the UN Security countries’ leaders on Armenia- resolutions as well, while the Prime Azerbaijan conflict in 30 years. Minister Pashinyan tried to misinterpret these resolutions (822, 853, 875, 884). Firstly, President Aliyev mentioned that However, Mr. Aliyev stressed that the several years ago there was an UN Security Council as the highest opportunity to hold a first public debate international body demanded “withdraw

Mirza İbrahimov 8, Baku, AZ1005, Azerbaijan, Phone: (+994 12) 596-82-39, (+994 12) 596-82-41, E-mail: [email protected]

5 their troops immediately and conference was another step towards unconditionally from the occupied highlighting the necessity to protect territories”. President Aliyev mentioned more women from violence and that Azerbaijan expects the OSCE Minsk sufferings during the conflicts, alongside Group Co-chairs and other international achieving greater involvement for actors to put pressure on Armenia to women in dealing with the respect Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity consequences of the conflicts and and act accordingly. conflict resolution.

President Aliyev concluded the debate: The UN Resident Coordinator in “Armenian people self-determined Azerbaijan Ghulam Isaczai stressed “UN themselves, they have Armenian state. Security Council Resolution 1325 My advice: to find another place on Earth reflected the role of women in conflict to self-determine themselves for the prevention and peacebuilding. Women’s second time, not in Azerbaijan”. activities in this area will be a guarantee of lasting peace. We also call on Since this was the first public debate Azerbaijan to adopt the Action Plan on between the parties, international UN Security Council Resolution 1325”. experts differed in their assessments Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the about the outcome of the discussion. , Head of the Some emphasized that as it was the first Foreign Policy Department of the public debate, leaders of two countries Presidential Administration, speaking on mainly discussed many historical issues. the UN Security Council Resolution noted It is hoped that in the future debates, that the “National Action Plan has been there will be more focus on the developed in order to implement the negotiation process. resolution and is currently underway with government agencies to bring it to

the final stage”. It is believed that the VI. The International Conference National Action Plan will lead to the “IDP Women’s Call for Justice: women’s active participation in the Addressing Their Needs in Peace peace process, as they will feel more and Security Agenda”, organized empowered after the implementation. by the AIR Center Farid Shafiyev, Chairman of the Board of The international conference was held in AIR Center, emphasized the importance the run up to the commemoration of the of such events in Azerbaijan. According 28th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide to him, as a result of Armenia-Azerbaijan as well as the 20th anniversary of the UN conflict, Azerbaijan always acts from the Security Council's Resolution 1325 on position of defense: “But the victim of Women, Peace, and Security. This this conflict is Azerbaijan. We need to

Mirza İbrahimov 8, Baku, AZ1005, Azerbaijan, Phone: (+994 12) 596-82-39, (+994 12) 596-82-41, E-mail: [email protected]

6 redefine our position by discussing such Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict shared their issues and making our voice heard by the life stories. It was an effective way to international community”. understand the vulnerabilities of women during the conflict, as well as to During the statements of the speakers, it experience their aspiration towards was highlighted that in order to increase peace. the engagement of women in the peace processes, it is important to create a V. Italy-Azerbaijan Relations relationship between the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of Nagorno- President Ilham Aliyev completed a state Karabakh. Before the occupation, visit (the highest-level visit possible in Armenian and Azerbaijani communities inter-state ties) to Italy from February lived together peacefully and these 19th-22nd. One of the significant events communities should have better of the visit was the Italy-Azerbaijan interaction with each-other in order to Business Forum, held on February 21st. understand the common issues properly. In his address of the event, President There is also an expectation that after Aliyev noted that there were more than the liberation of Azerbaijani lands, 25 documents signed covering “political, women will contribute to the economic, cultural, humanitarian peacebuilding efforts and the restoration spheres, education, energy, space of intercommunal relations. As women industry, military industry and other are the significant part of society that areas [providing] an excellent basis for faced violence during the conflict and are further cooperation” (azertag.az, the most suffered ones, their 21.02.2020). The variety of areas contribution to the peace process is discussed in these documents indicates important. Tural Ganjaliyev, head of the the advanced level at which bilateral Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno- relations between Azerbaijan and Italy Karabakh region, mentioned that “we are progressing. Additionally, President witness the peaceful calls of Azerbaijani Aliyev spoke on the Joint Declaration on women from Nagorno-Karabakh. We Strengthening Multidimensional expect our women to actively participate Strategic Partnership. He stated that in the reconstruction work after the “This is a very serious political document occupation is over”. essentially defining the main priorities of our further bilateral cooperation” The panel discussions on "Promoting (azertag.az, 21.02.2020). This document Women's Rights and Participation in has a vital political importance for the Conflict-Controlled Environments" and future relations of the countries, as it "Human Face of Conflict" followed. also indicates Italy’s supportive stance During the second panel discussion, towards the peaceful settlement of women who suffered directly from Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict based on

Mirza İbrahimov 8, Baku, AZ1005, Azerbaijan, Phone: (+994 12) 596-82-39, (+994 12) 596-82-41, E-mail: [email protected]

7 the relevant international documents, levels of partnership during this visit, as including first and foremost, the four the sides reached over an agreement on resolutions (822, 853, 874 and 884) of the military cooperation. Zakir Hasanov, the UN Security Council and the the minister of defense of Azerbaijan, fundamental principles of the CSCE and Alessandro Profumo, the chief Helsinki Final Act (1975), which executive officer of Italian aeronautics recognizes the primacy of the principles manufacturer Leonardo S.p.A, agreed on of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the procurement of M-346 Master inviolability of internationally recognized trainers/light-attack aircraft. As part of borders. this agreement Azerbaijan will acquire 10–25 of these jets from the Italian This document will also lead to the company. There was also agreement achievement of closer economic over the ground-based training aids partnership between the two countries. between the sides. Azerbaijan agreed to Currently, Azerbaijan’s largest trading buy the M-346s which is planned to partner in Europe is Italy, with a trade assist Baku to instruct fifth-generation turnover of over $6 billion. Of this $6 multi-role fighter pilots. billion, approximately $5.9 billion is Azerbaijani exports to Italy, showing a large trade imbalance between the two. Italy is a huge consumer of Azerbaijani oil, as in 2018 Azerbaijan exported approximately 18% of Italy’s total oil consumption (statista.com, 04.02.2020). Additionally, though Italy is focused on diversifying energy supplies, oil remains relevant and natural gas dominates energy consumption. This demonstrates that Italy will be importing Azerbaijani energy in the foreseeable future. Pertinently, the TAP pipeline is set to be completed this year finalizing the construction of the Southern Gas Corridor. The Southern Gas Corridor will link Azerbaijan and Italy and supply the latter and the rest of Europe with natural gas. Thus, economic ties between the two countries are stable and advancing.

Azerbaijan and Italy targeted even higher

Mirza İbrahimov 8, Baku, AZ1005, Azerbaijan, Phone: (+994 12) 596-82-39, (+994 12) 596-82-41, E-mail: [email protected]