Since gaining independence in October 1991, the Republic of Azerbaijan has moved forward in the framework of democratic values, declaring itself as a developing, stable and secular country of the Muslim majority, writes in an article for Eurasiareview Azerbaijan: A Global Partner in Defense of Peace and Prosperity, an American expert on international relations Peter Tase.
According to Tase, for many years, Baku has closely cooperated with the United States and NATO in the field of security, combating terrorism and strengthening its democratic institutions. For many years the armed forces of Azerbaijan have been working together with the US and NATO forces. Their unshakable commitment contributed to the achievement of concrete results within the framework of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.
In addition, in its report "The European Union's Global Strategy for Foreign Policy and Security" for 2016, the EU writes: "... We will act globally to address the root causes of conflict and poverty in order to protect human rights ... The EU will be practical and principally participate in peace building, concentrating efforts in the surrounding regions in the East and South, with simultaneous consideration of participation in each specific case. The EU will contribute to the security of humanity through an integrated approach. "
While the Republic of Azerbaijan contributed to the fight against terrorism and organized crime, the European Union and Washington failed to properly achieve concrete progress and actively participate in the resolution of the ongoing war in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Armenian Armed Forces still occupy more than twenty percent of the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan, cause damage and cause the death of the civilian population of Azerbaijan and the surrounding territories.
The European Union's goal of "implementing a multidimensional approach by using all available political tools and assets aimed at preventing and managing conflicts" has been irrelevant (non-actual). Brussels prefers to remain silent when it comes to resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, ensuring full territorial sovereignty of Azerbaijan, as well as bringing Armenia to justice.
In addition, the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan, Mali, Somalia and Syria demonstrate a decrease in the influence of the EU and NATO as key players able to solve problems and invest more resources in de-escalating ongoing conflicts on the edges of Europe, Africa and the Mediterranean.
When the EU and NATO continue to turn a blind eye to blatant crimes against humanity committed by the Fascist government of Yerevan in the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan, in 2017, Baku sent a group of 70 Azerbaijani servicemen to Afghanistan to help and facilitate the NATO mission deployed in Afghanistan to provide vital support for the stability and security of this country.
In early 2018 AZERTAG reported: "On November 23, 2017, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev announced that the number of Azerbaijani peacekeepers [in the mission to provide strong support in Afghanistan] will be increased in 2018. On December 29, 2017, the Azerbaijani parliament amended the resolution "On agreeing to the deployment and participation in relevant operations in Afghanistan of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan as part of the battalion of the Armed Forces of the Turkish Republic and under the general command of NATO structures." It is admirable that since 2018 the number of peacekeeping forces in Azerbaijan has increased from 94 to 120 servicemen.
In addition, the 7th ministerial "Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process" was held in Baku on the topic "Security and economic commitment to the strengthening of the heart of the Asian region", where the President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, was present. This event once again demonstrates the role of the Azerbaijani government in ensuring peace and stability in Central Asia. Meanwhile, the centuries-old policy of ethnic cleansing, genocide and aggression of Armenia, deliberately carried out against Azerbaijani territories and innocent civilians, is still immune to the policy of silence and double standards pursued by the EU.
In early June 2018, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland allegedly initiated the suspension of Azerbaijan's membership in the Council of Europe. The international media are well aware that Jagland, a "politician without a diploma", has always demonstrated a pro-Armenian stance and a prejudiced attitude towards Azerbaijan. A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia accidentally announced this covert initiative against Azerbaijan, and today everyone is aware of the poor leadership qualities of Jagland and inability to assess the impressive economic and socio-political reforms of Baku.
The role of Azerbaijan in peacekeeping missions cannot be overestimated. The strategy of public diplomacy of the country contributed to the establishment of significant levels of interreligious tolerance, the preservation of multiculturalism and the strengthening of decent governance combined with a pragmatic economic strategy.
Head of the State Ilham Aliyev maintains ties with the West and strengthens economic, trade and defense relations with the EU members in the face of Italy and Germany.
Washington and Brussels understand that Azerbaijan has strategic ties with Iran and Russia - nevertheless these two global participants failed to ensure peace and stability in the Caucasus, not to mention ensuring full territorial sovereignty of Azerbaijan and further deterring Armenian terrorism. Baku actively promoted the creation of a peaceful and secure global space, while the short-sightedness of the EU ignores the threat of Armenian terrorism.
