On February 22, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a Declaration on “Reciprocal Alliance Activity between Russia and Azerbaijan” in Moscow. The document, consisting of 43 points, is published by the Azerbaijan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The document states that the parties adhere to the principles of mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of state borders. Besides, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, peaceful settlement of disputes, non-use of force or threat of force are the principles the two build their relations on, it reads.
Besides, the document emphasizes that one of the parties expresses “its readiness to hold urgent consultations to resolve any situation affecting security interests, as well as the threat of such a situation”.
Another point on the theme of security issues establishes that in order to ensure “security, maintain peace and stability, Russia and Azerbaijan may consider providing military assistance to each other on the basis of the international legal obligations of each of the parties”.
Besides, agreements have been made on economical matters, promising cooperation in industries, such as metallurgy, oil and gas and heavy engineering, aviation, automotive, chemical, pharmaceutical and light industry, agriculture, road construction and food engineering.
The news of the Declaration of Alliance, even before it was signed and published, caused outrage among many Azerbaijanis.
Analyst Shahin Jafarli pointed to the fact in the newly-ratified Azerbaijan-Turkey alliance declaration too there is a point about possibility of military aid and consultations in case of foreign threat.
Now it is not clear who will protect whom, the lines are mixed. What danger will Russia protect us from? What threat will Turkey protect us from? What will happen when the interests of these two countries collide? What will Baku do if Ankara wants to cooperate with us on any issue that is against Moscow’s interests and Moscow is against Ankara’s interests?
