By Fariz Ismailzade, director of the Advanced Foreign Service Program at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy.
These past few days I was honored to participate in the 46th Munich Security Conference, top level, global forum which debates the current and future global threats and addresses ways to resolve them. This year, among dignitaries were NATO Secretary-General Rasmussen, Senators McCain and Lieberman, former US Secretaries of State Kissinger, Schultz and Albright, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Davutoglu, Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, High Representative for the Common EU Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, foreign and defence ministers from a number of countries as well as policy analysts, military and civilian officials. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was among the three heads of state, invited to address this distinguished gathering, along with the presidents of Afghanistan and Macedonia.
Azerbaijan has the policy of diversification of its energy supplies and thus effectively helps the EU region to ensure its energy security.
The conference focused on a number of critical security issues from around the world. It was clear that the world is getting more and more complicated, insecure. Threats are becoming diverse, unexpected and asymmetrical. And what was particularly interesting was that almost all participants stressed that without a multilateral approach, without the support of all nations, including even small countries like Azerbaijan, it will be impossible to solve the global problems. In this regard, almost every single problem that was highlighted at the conference is affected by Azerbaijan's efforts to bring sustainable peace and stability to our planet.
Let’s take Afghanistan. Almost half of the conference debates was focused on this issue. High ranking guests emphasized how enormous the challenge is to bring security and stability to this region. A military solution alone will not help, they stressed. A complex approach is needed to help save the situation in this critical part of the world. Investment in education, health care, economic development, employment opportunities, good governance and regional cooperation are necessary to eradicate terrorism. In this regard, Azerbaijan was mentioned with special gratitude from NATO members for its contribution to the peacekeeping operations and educational/health care programs in that country.
Energy Security. Ten years ago NATO generals would have laughed if anyone had mentioned energy as a pivot in the security architecture. But today, everyone is convinced that without a stable energy supply, no economy and no defence of any country will survive. Thus, President Aliyev’s speech on energy projects in the Caspian and the cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU region was very timely and appreciated. Azerbaijan has the policy of diversification of its energy supplies and thus effectively helps the EU region to ensure its energy security.
Political dialogue with Russia was mentioned as a new necessity for NATO. Azerbaijan in this regard can be the best example of developing and maintaining strong, mutually respectful and beneficial relations with Russia as well as other regional powers such as Iran and China. Without political cooperation with Russia and China, it was stressed, NATO alone will not be able to resolve the global challenges.
Climate change was mentioned on a number of occasions. Many see it as a rising global problem. It was very timely that President Aliyev mentioned in his remarks the newly established state agency for renewable energy and some solar and wind projects that are taking place in Azerbaijan.
Finally, economic development. President Aliyev highlighted the growth of the economy in Azerbaijan as well as the role of our country in providing an impetus to wider regional economic development, food security and trade. Without economic development, it is clear that there cannot be sustainable military or political security in any part of the world.
The world is changing fast. Security threats are changing fast too. Information flow, cyber security, environmental concerns, terrorism and other issues push us all to act quickly and, what is more important, in global partnership. In this regard, Azerbaijan, although a small country, left a very positive impression at the Munich Security Conference.
Fariz Ismailzade is director of the Advanced Foreign Service Program at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy