Nine countries have candidate status for the European Union, which unites 27 countries. Three of them represent the former USSR space: Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia.
Armenia also intends to apply for membership in the union.
From the former USSR space, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania joined the European Union in 2004.
Is close integration of Azerbaijan into this institution and applying for membership in the future necessary?
Answering Medianews.az's question, Member of the Milli Majlis Aydin Mirzazade recalled that Turkey applied to become a member of the European Union in the last century: “However, until now, the application has not received a positive response. Once, the President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, said that even if we apply there, we know that we will not be accepted under a thousand and one pretexts. From this perspective, Azerbaijan prioritizes a bilateral cooperation policy with countries that are members of this union rather than becoming a member of this union itself. Today, we have political and economic relations with many European Union countries, and our bilateral relations are at a high level. Even the visit of the President of Latvia, a member of the European Union, Edgars Rinkēvičs, to Azerbaijan this week proves the depth of our relations.
As much as they are interested in cooperating with us, we are equally ready to take steps. I believe that Azerbaijan will demonstrate its positive examples in developing democracy and renewing economically even without membership in the European Union.”
Member of the Milli Majlis Qudrat Hesenquliyev emphasized in an interview with Medianews.az that the issue of Azerbaijan’s membership in the European Union is unrealistic: “We should pay more attention to regional cooperation in the 3+3 format and the development of the Organization of Turkic States. Most importantly, however, we must carry out broad reforms within the country.”
Political scientist Khagani Jafarli told Medianews.az that the joining of states to any union or alliance depends on their interests and benefits. According to him, there is a very important point that compels Azerbaijan to behave differently from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, which have become members of the European Union, as well as Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, and Armenia, which declared EU membership as a strategic choice: “This is the South Azerbaijan factor. Azerbaijan should not endanger the prospective unification with South Azerbaijan by joining any union or alliance. In my opinion, the most suitable format for Azerbaijan’s interests could be the ‘Caspian Security’ alliance to be established with the USA and Israel. This format can ensure Azerbaijan’s unification as well as integration into Central Asia. The current relations of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan with the USA and Israel can provide broader geographical coverage for the ‘Caspian Security’ alliance.
The initiative, which is also on the agenda, about the new cooperation format that Azerbaijan can establish with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan within the USA’s S7+ (Silk Seven Plus) project heard from Washington increases the necessity of the ‘Caspian Security’ alliance.
The proposed ‘Security Ring’ to be established in case the USA leaves NATO will also stimulate the creation of new relations and alliances in the region. In my opinion, Azerbaijan’s future looks more attractive in connection with the USA. Without all these factors, the European Union would have been attractive for Azerbaijan.”
Political scientist Natig Miri said in an interview with Medianews.az on the subject that the European Union, due to the political and economic space it covers, is a global power: “But however much it claims democracy and human rights, it is no secret that the European Union is a Christian club. Otherwise, they would not have kept brother Turkey behind the door of the union for decades. Today, the European Union has very serious security problems. Because the USA emphasizes that it will no longer defend the European Union and that the union must defend itself. Especially when EU members, who are also allies of Washington in NATO, refused to support the USA during the war with Iran, the bridges between Washington and Brussels burned. Now the USA threatens Europe with withdrawal from NATO. The gradual transformation of US troops from Europe to other regions, mainly the Indo-Pacific basin, is expected. Preparations are underway.
Actually, when approached purely as a result of political and legal procedures, it is possible for Azerbaijan to be accepted into the European Union in the future. However, considering that we are a country where Muslims constitute the majority, it is not reasonable to think that Azerbaijan can pass those procedures as easily as Christian countries. Let’s not forget the attitude shown to a country like Turkey, which is a NATO member. From this perspective, considering reality, I do not think Azerbaijan will ever be admitted to the European Union.
But this does not mean that Azerbaijan is not yearning for European Union membership because of all this. The European Union is a geopolitical space far from and different from Azerbaijan and the Turkic world in moral-psychological and historical terms. Therefore, becoming a member of the European Union in the current situation is basically not right for either Turkey or Azerbaijan. The place of Turkey and Azerbaijan is alongside each other and the Turkic world. Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Turkic states are perhaps the only geopolitical space where the world’s pulse beats today. One side of this space is the West, the other is Central Asia, and it also has a place in a strategic area such as the South Caucasus. Can there be a greater power economically, politically, or militarily than this? Therefore, wasting time within the context of the empty promises given by the European Union is unnecessary neither for Azerbaijan nor Turkey. Spending that time for stronger integration within the Organization of Turkic States is a more proper way. If this happens, in a time when the world is being reshaped, the Turkic world can turn into one of the global power centers.
Trying to become a member of the European Union, which works with double standards, completely pushes morality into the background, and has an uncertain future, is a futile use of effort and energy. If it is about access to the scientific-technological market, this can also be done by establishing bilateral relations. Isn’t the policy of acquiring the latest technologies and scientific achievements together and sharing the gains with your brothers more correct? For this reason, I do not see Azerbaijan and brother Turkey in Europe. After all, we are not desirable countries for them. We should also consider them undesirable for us. Relations should only be built within the context of interests. We should establish normal commercial, political, and military cooperation separately with the members of the European Union, bilaterally, and also with the EU as a whole. Integration should be in this way; membership will not bring us anything from them. It is a Christian club and its current fate is evident.”
Nailə Qasımova,
Medianews.az
Note: The article was prepared on the topic “Integration of the Republic of Azerbaijan into the world community, development of cooperation with regional countries and other states, and international organizations” with the financial support of the Media Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan and in accordance with the terms of the competition.
