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Bucharest Summit: What does bordering on NATO mean for Azerbaijan?- ANALYSIS

Bucharest Summit: What does bordering on NATO mean for Azerbaijan?<font color=red>- ANALYSIS</font>

08 April 2008 10:20 (UTC +04:00)

The Final Declaration, consisted of 50 articles and signed by the leaders of 26 member countries, covers various fields from anti-terrorism efforts to new membership. This event differed from the previous one for its scale. The Bucharest Summit was a biggest summit in the history of North Atlantic bloc. There is no point to speak about the Romanian summit experience, because the NATO Summit was larger than 2006 Francophone Summit in Bucharest. Romanian Government spent totally 30 million dollars to the organization of NATO Summit. The other characterizing feature of the Bucharest Summit was that no one returned home light-handed. Albanian and Croatian happiness can be understood, because these two western Balkan countries have been welcomed in the world most powerful military alliance. Host country Romania is satisfied with its ability as an organizer of the large-scale international event gained the regional and international respect to the country. However, other parts felt short happiness because no one reached its goal fully: Georgia and Ukraineâ€™s hopes for the NATO Membership Action Plan didnâ€™t come true, but instead of this, they were included in the Final Declaration as a possible candidate to NATO membership. Russia, the backstage author of these moves could temporarily prevent NATO crossing of former USSR borders. France and Germany were satisfied with that they could keep promises to Russia and reach a compromise with their allies like US and Britain. Postponing the issue of Georgian-Ukrainian tandem until the NATO foreign ministers meeting in December, London and Washington could make Germany and France to abstain from their resolute stance against the Georgia and Ukraineâ€™s integration into NATO. Only Macedonia stands aside from this tableau of mass happiness. Despite being more developed that Albania, this small Balkan country couldnâ€™t enter NATO owing to Greek obstacle. Greece, which occupied the southern part of historic Macedonia during the 1912-13 Balkan war, is protesting against the name of Macedonia, because considers it as a territorial claim against itself by the Northern Macedonia or former Yugoslavian Macedonia.
There is no doubt that Bucharest Summit also assumes distinct significance for Azerbaijan. 43rd article of the Final Declaration, supporting the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of 4 post-soviet countries and proposing to solve the â€œfrozen conflictsâ€ in the territories of these countries within the above-mentioned principles, coincides with the main targets of Azerbaijani diplomacy. Three of these countries â€“ Georgia, Azerbaijan and Moldova are GUAM members cooperating with the West and facing with the Abkhazian, south Ossetian, Nagorno Karabakh and Transdniestrian conflicts in their territories. As a matter of fact, Armenia was formally included in this article, because Azerbaijan suffers from the violation of its territorial integrity and Armenia does not face with the territorial claims. What does this document mean for Azerbaijan? It is necessary to return back to the UN General Assemblyâ€™s last session to answer this question. Baku getting the important legal argument after the adoption of resolution on the â€œSituation in the occupied Azerbaijani territoriesâ€ achieved the support of the world biggest military alliance in this sensitive issue.
Moreover, 2 OSCE member countries are also included into NATO. After Kosovo experience, there were serious suspicions on the solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict by means of withdrawal international peacekeepers because of confrontation between NATO and Serbia. Azerbaijan has strengthened its position by the support of UN and NATO and further process will depend on using these cards. South Caucasus is in the focus of attention of the world community at present. Georgiaâ€™s candidacy for NATO membership shakes balance of forces in the region. Maneuver opportunities of official Baku with Russia and West have been increased or decreased. Because Georgia and Armenia â€˜s foreign policy is unambiguous and Azerbaijan has rich energy resources and it is a key of Central Asia and Caspian Sea and therefore its value has been increased in the region. The choice of barricade will be absolute. Azerbaijan has ensured its position pursuing geopolitical marketing during West-Russia confrontation.
Bucharest Summit was a Summit opened a door to a new period. Georgian President also stated that we had imagined such situation before. Azerbaijan has expected this situation for 17 years. Azerbaijan has worked for a long time to direct attention of the world to Caspian and Black Seas regions by the help of its foreign policy and oil diplomacy. We can say that itâ€™s high time for â€œX Clockâ€ in the Caucasus.