Azeri Paper Doubts Benefits of 'Friendship' With Iran World News Connection

Zerkalo.az: Hat Tip to Ilan Berman.

The development of strategic cooperation on the basis of important geographical location corresponds both to bilateral and regional interests, [Azerbaijani news agency] Trend reported the Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan, Afshar Soleymani, as saying at a news conference on 22 December.

"All these will in the end benefit to the well-being of the two peoples, as well as to the regional stability and development," the ambassador said.

Commenting on the recent talks between the presidents of Iran and Azerbaijan held in [Azerbaijani exclave of ] Naxcivan, the diplomat said that the sides had carried out effective and thorough consultations. As a result of the consultations, a memorandum was signed, which envisaged boosting cooperation in the energy sector, and a document foreseeing allocation of 1m dollars for the reconstruction of the border bridge of Taxtakorpu.

According to Soleymani, the sides have been implementing many economic projects that form an important part of the energy cooperation between the two countries.

It is not difficult to judge the extent of the ambassador's frankness since Tehran's offer of friendship brings about at least two sensitive questions. First, does Baku need this kind of "friendship"? Second, where will it lead Azerbaijan?

It is not by accident that the word "friendship" has been put in inverted commas. Presently, the two states remind more of the neighbours that, despite shaking hands in public, covertly cause damage to each other on account of old "family quarrels". READ MORE

Azerbaijani-Iranian relations have never been particularly fond. That is not a caprice, but an "ancient game" that has turned into a norm. Although lately the sides have been demonstrating to the public certain rapprochement, "the skeleton in the wardrobe" of Baku and Tehran does not let us think of any chance of having at least friendly relations in the future.

Obviously, Iran is not even a part of the heavily advertised "policy of balance of Azerbaijan", because the countries' internal and external political realities are quite opposite.

The history of independent Azerbaijan is filled with evidences of Iran's "friendship". In many years, which have become centuries, Iran has openly been implementing a discriminatory policy towards millions of Azerbaijani people living in southern Azerbaijan [northern part of Iran populated by ethnic Azerbaijanis]. Iran justifies this policy by the need to suppress possible separatism.

After northern Azerbaijan [The Republic of Azerbaijan] has become independent, Tehran began to consider Baku a real threat to its territorial integrity. Iran feared that southern and northern Azerbaijanis would wish to unite into a single state.

Iran had many reasons to fear. There were maps of united Azerbaijan hanging in offices of Azerbaijani national patriots, official Baku that unofficially supported political movements of ethnic Azerbaijanis in Iran, media publications and the overall popularity of the idea of reunion of the people that had been divided by Araz [the river that divides Azerbaijan into two parts]. On that grounds, Iranian government has been doing its best to prevent Azerbaijan from becoming an influential regional player.

Azerbaijan's cooperation with the USA, Turkey and Israel is an additional irritant for Tehran. The irritation showed itself when Iran led its military cutters to Azerbaijani territorial waters which forced western oil vessels retreat to the Azerbaijani coast.

The prospect of opening an Azerbaijani embassy in Israel is vigorously hampered by the Islamic world, in the first place by Iran. Up to now, Iran has been interfering with the final determination of the Caspian Sea's legal status without providing any logical or legal arguments. Because Iran understands that the status would create more opportunities for western oil companies working in Azerbaijani section of the sea.

Despite the "friendship", the question of opening an Azerbaijani consulate in Tabriz had remained unanswered for many years. Iranian officials were particularly "friendly" towards Azerbaijani diplomats, who they could easily insult on Iran's territory. "Friendly" agents of Iranian intelligence service work actively in Azerbaijan, especially in its southern part, inciting religious confrontation and separatism among local citizens.

In the meantime, the countries feel "embarrassed" to play dirty tricks on each other. For instance, on the one hand, Azerbaijan allows the USA to set up radar stations on the Iranian border. On the other hand, Baku signs a military memorandum with Tehran, and Azerbaijani diplomats claim that "Iranian nuclear researches are the country's internal business".

Iran's humanitarian aid to Azerbaijani refugees looks quite "nice" against the background of the Iranian-Armenian strategic union. Iran launched gas supplies to Naxcivan and at the same time started building a gas pipeline to "blockaded" Armenia. Next Tehran agrees with Baku on the launch of unified energy system Russia-Azerbaijan-Iran and receives Russian supplied components for its nuclear programme via Armenia.

Azerbaijani people have no doubts that Iran supported Armenia in difficult days. Even nowadays, Iranian trailer trucks break somewhat illusionary blockade of Armenia and Nagornyy Karabakh. By the way, Armenian people do not doubt the Iranian support either. According to results of the survey conducted in this country, 64.3 per cent of Armenian population regard Armenian-Iranian relationship as positive.

On 21 December [Armenian news agency] Arminfo publicized results of an opinion poll carried out by the Foundation for Development - Caucasus Institute for Democracy [Rus: Fond Razvitiya - Kavkazskiy Institut Demokratii], in which 1,600 Armenians were polled. The results said that 39.3 per cent of the respondents considered it necessary to condemn the USA in case of a military aggression against Iran. Some 51.6 per cent said that Armenia should remain neutral, 1.6 per cent said that Armenia should side with the USA and 0.6 per cent said that Armenia ought to let the USA to station its military bases in Armenia.

Let us turn to the questions raised. It is evident that Iran's offer of strategic partnership is more of a symbolic nature rather than a real prospect of friendly relationship. Baku and Tehran continue flirting with each other, although both realize that Azerbaijan might become a jumping-off place for US military action against Iran. This is not beneficial for Azerbaijan, but it may be easily foreseen that Baku would not have either strength or desire to contradict Washington's will.

Tehran's proposal of friendship looks like an offer to "drown together" in the light of ever strengthening pressure on Iran by the world society and controversial elections in Azerbaijan. The present is overwhelmed by the burden of the past and a doubtful prospect of the future. Only "friendship" is possible today.

[Description of Source: Baku Zerkalo in Russian -- Independent, non-governmental newspaper reporting general political and economic news; website located at www.zerkalo.az]