Tweet
U.S.-TURKEY-AZERBAIJAN: A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
US Department of State, DC
Dec 10 2007
Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary European and Eurasian Affairs
Remarks to the Center for Eurasian Policy conference on "The
Azerbaijan-Turkey-U.S. Relations and Its importance for Eurasia"
Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DC
December 10, 2007
As delivered
Assistant Secretary Fried: Thank you for your remarks, and it's a
pleasure to see you.
I am told that the name Azerbaijan comes from old Persian for "the land
of fire." The reference is supposedly to Azerbaijan's famous petroleum
deposits. So the link between the nation and energy captures the way
many look at Azerbaijan. But there's another theory, that the name
Azerbaijan refers to bonfires lit by the Zoroastrian high priests
of the ancient country. I actually prefer that theory of the name
Azerbaijan because it roots the nation in ancient culture and it is
culture, not resources, that make civilizations.
Nations need resources, but traditions and values are deeper
ingredients of successful nationhood, and America looks at Azerbaijan
in the deeper sense.
The United States and Europe are, of course, large consumers of
foreign energy, and we're interested in free and open markets for all
commodities, especially strategic ones, and I will speak to that. But
U.S. interests in partnership with Azerbaijan are broader. We have
a stake in the spread of the rule of law and democracy over time
and the stability that results from their consolidation and an open
trading system. And our relations with Turkey are similarly broad.
The three of us here -- Azerbaijan, Turkey and the United States --
can form a strategic partnership that will benefit us all and in turn
benefit the wider region.
Turkey's example as a secular democracy with a Muslim majority
population can inspire reformers in the Caucasus, Central Asia,
and the broader Middle East who seek the same political freedoms,
prosperity, and stability that Turkish citizens increasingly enjoy.
America's grand strategy for post-Communist Europe since 1989 has
rested on a deceptively simple principle: America's interests are
best served when the countries which liberate themselves from Soviet
control are free and empowered to fulfill their own destiny by pursuing
their own reforms.
The United States does not view the countries in the South Caucasus
and Central Asia instrumentally. Rather, we are convinced that
Azerbaijan's success as a nation -- free and at peace at home, at
peace in its region -- is in itself in our long-term interest.
I'd like to make three points to illustrate how we apply
this overall approach to Azerbaijan in particular, and what
Turkish-Azerbaijani-U.S. strategic partnership means in practice.
First, by succeeding as a democracy over time and building modern
national institutions, again over time, Azerbaijan can be a stronger
nation and more important strategic partner.
The second point concerns Turkish-Azerbaijani-U.S. energy
partnership. Through this partnership, we hope Azerbaijan can find
the resources for building its state at home and peace and security
in its region, and through energy partnerships, the region will have
a stronger physical link to the outside world.
The third point is the overall strategic impact that we hope
U.S.-Turkish-Azerbaijani cooperation will have on the wider region
which stretches from the Black Sea to China.
Azerbaijan's Democracy and Nationhood
Now let us acknowledge and frankly applaud what Azerbaijan has
been achieving since regaining its independence in 1991. It managed
the immediate post-Soviet transition successfully under very tough
circumstances. It stabilized itself and developed cooperative relations
with Russia. Today Azerbaijan is helping Iraqis and Afghans retain
their freedom, in partnerships with the United States and NATO.
Nagorno-Karabakh remains an unresolved and dangerous problem. But even
given this, we should affirm that President Haydar Aliyev achieved a
great deal in successfully creating a viable and sovereign state. The
question now is what kind of a state Azerbaijan will become, and that
question is not yet answered.
Will Azerbaijan continue the successful path of national development?
It can do so only if it creates 21st Century institutions essential for
a modern state, including an independent legislature; an independent
banking system; an impartial judiciary free of political control;
independent functioning markets; an independent media; and more. This
is the challenge for President Ilham Aliyev.
Notice my use of the word independent. Checks and balances are
necessary if a government is going to correct its course, as
all governments must. And checks and balances only function when
institutions act without fear of retribution. Freedom in this sense
is not a luxury one looks to achieve as an afterthought. Democracy
is not simply the holding of elections.
The 21st Century faces many challenges -- terrorism and ideological
radicalization; the proliferation of unconventional weapons; and weak
and corrupt governance among them. The response to these challenges
will be found in the rule of law, through governments that rule justly
and accountably, through free markets and the institutions that keep
them honest.
And Azerbaijan's achievements in this context are still there. The
opposition has been marginalized and while I know there are outstanding
individuals in government, one with us today, the legislature needs
to play its role through governing the country and not simply be in
transition mode. Courts too, need to function as courts. And we are
disturbed by the continued and recently growing pressure on the media,
including arrests of journalists and editors.
I was dismayed to learn of the arrest of Mr. Nasibov, the RFE/RL
correspondent in Azerbaijan late last week under charges of "criminal
libel." Now I understand that the Nakhichivan prosecutor has dropped
the most severe charges; if that's true, I welcome it. But I also
understand that Mr. Nasibov has been given a year's probation for what
appears to be no more than doing his job. And his arrest follows the
disturbing pattern of pressure on independent journalists. I hope that
this pattern has not marked a major deterioration of media freedom
in Azerbaijan. This would not be good news for Azerbaijan, primarily,
and therefore not good news for the United States.
Now we all witnessed the difficulties Georgia encountered when it
closed the major television station, now reopening. Our message to
our Georgian friends was the same as my message now: If media are not
free, neither is the nation. Strong countries have free media. The
media has a responsibility to maintain professional standards, but
arrests are not the way to develop these.
Now these blunt words may not meet with an enthusiastic reaction from
some. But they're not intended to elicit one. Let me add, though,
that America is far from perfect, and we do not hold ourselves above
criticism. Neither does Azerbaijan need to hold the United States as
the sole available model. There are other examples. Turkey is itself
deepening its democracy and gradually developing the practices and
institutions of a secular democracy with a Muslim majority population
and a deeply religious culture beyond politics.
Turkish democracy has faced setbacks in the past and faced a test
this past spring and summer. There is no doubt that the main trend
in Turkey over the past generation has been profoundly democratic,
and this year Turkish democracy demonstrated its strength through
the last election. It provided a fair chance for the nation's will
to make itself known and respected.
Azerbaijan could follow Turkey's example, even as Turkey conducts
its own debates about improving journalistic freedoms and eliminating
taboos that have no place in a confident, modern nation.
Strong nations do not arrest their journalists and silence their
critics.
Azerbaijan might consider the U.S.-Turkish relations are based
on shared values as much as shared interests. By succeeding as a
democracy, Azerbaijan can similarly elevate its strategic importance
as Turkey has done.
Now this process, to be realistic, will take time. And both Minister
Cetin and Ambassador Sensoy made this point, and they are right. If
Azerbaijan over time opens itself up, deepens its modern institutions,
opens its economy, the rest of its democracy will follow, and its
independence and sovereignty will have stronger foundations as will
our partnership.
Comment