145 Bilten Slovenske vojske 
AZERBAJDŽAN	IN	NOVI	SISTEM	
EVROPSKE	VARNOSTI
AZERBAIJAN	AND	A	NEW	SYSTEM		
OF	EUROPEAN	SECURITY
Azer Khudiyev Strokovni članek
Professional article
Članek obravnava črnomorsko varnostno območje in varnostno vizijo Azerbajdžana 
v okviru Evropske unije.
Črnomorsko varnostno območje s številnih vidikov vpliva na različna področja, zato 
obstaja tudi mnogo okoliščin, ki lahko vplivajo na varnost.
Avtor meni, da ima Azerbajdžan dobre možnosti, da prispeva k večji varnosti. V 
tem članku primerja Slovenijo in Azerbajdžan z vidika varnostnih vprašanj, in sicer 
v smislu primerov dobre prakse ter načina, kako se lahko majhna država uveljavi in 
skupaj z drugimi prispeva svoj delež k varnosti Evropske unije.
Azerbajdžan, črnomorsko varnostno območje, Evropska unija, varnost, Slovenija.
Article focuses on Black sea security region and Azerbaijan’s security vision in the 
frame of European Union.
Black sea security region presents an area with broth spectrum of influences on many 
different fields thus the circumstances having impact on security are also many.
According by the author Azerbaijan has good issues to achieve some benefit in 
security aspects. The author made the comparison between Slovenia and Azerbaijan 
since both are an example of good practices and way of small country can find and 
contribute with others in case of European Union.
Azerbaijan, Black Sea Security region, European Union, security, Slovenia.
Azerbaijan’s participation in this process is due to several factors which are of crucial 
geopolitical, geo-economic, geo-cultural, geo-environmental and military impor-
tance. The issue can be considered in two different aspects. The first aspect is the 
role of Azerbaijan and its contribution as an independent and self-sufficient country 
Povzetek
Ključne 
besede
Abstract
Key words
Introduction
 146 Bilten Slovenske vojske 
Azer Khudiyev
to the creation of the new architecture of European security. The second aspect is 
Azerbaijan’s role as a member of regional geopolitical, geo-economic, geo-cultu-
ral, politico-military and other structures. One cannot say that at the present stage of 
world development, there are absolutely independent countries – they are all inter-
connected with each other “to such an extent that humanity is perceived as a complex, 
open and non-linear system”. The components of these systems are interconnected, 
and the existence of one depends on the existence of others. These “others” can be 
geographically located in the neighborhood or at a distance of thousands of kilome-
ters. Figuratively speaking, our world has become very “sensitive” in all aspects of 
life, both at the level of society and humanity. For these reasons, it would be more 
constructive and effective to analyze the role of Azerbaijan in the creation of new 
European security architecture in the context of regional integration. By “region” 
we mean the Black Sea-Caspian basin. Both Western and Russian politicians and 
analysts see the Black Sea and Caspian basins as a single whole – all models of 
security focus on a single system of the Black Sea-Caspian basin. Such an approach 
is due to several factors, above all, energy factors and general characteristics of the 
globalization process. We are not going to focus on description of these factors – su-
fficient information could be found in many researches1 (Adiyev, Ryabtsev).
Let’s make two preliminary comments of methodological nature. Firstly, by security 
system we understand a regulatory mechanism, within the framework of which all 
conditions leading to emergence of differences, disputes and conflicts between the 
states would be brought to minimum. Thus, security system – is a dynamic condition 
of interactions among the states in given geographical area.
It is clear that system of monitoring must be in place for providing security. 
Essentially this system is a formation of a network of “measurement points” of the 
situation in all countries of the region with single organizational and conceptual 
“not”. According to international practice, direct way of achieving this is applica-
tion of trust-building measures and initiation of multifaceted cooperation between 
the states. Secondly, in contrast to the approach taken by some experts who see 
the Black Sea-Caspian region as a buffer zone between Russia and the West, for 
Azerbaijan the operational definition of the term “Black Sea-Caspian region” is 
as follows: a region that unites the East and the West. In this regard, it would be 
appropriate to consider, first of all, Azerbaijan’s role in creating the new architec-
ture of European security through a prism of trans-national energy projects. Almost 
all Russian and Western experts, including experts from NATO, consider the Baku-
Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum projects as the main factors influencing 
the formation of a new security system in the Black Sea-Caspian basin that unites 
the east and west of the region. Moreover, almost all leading Western politicians and 
statesmen are talking about the special role of Azerbaijan in the Nabucco project 
precisely in the context of ensuring the energy security of Europe. This point is 
also considered in the context of regional cooperation which covers the entire Black 
1 See more Black Sea Forum supports the dialogue and cooperation. Monday, Weekly edition of South-Caucasian 
Institute of regional security. 2006, № 21, (June). P.3-4.
 147 Bilten Slovenske vojske 
AZERBAIJAN AND A NEW SYSTEM OF EUROPEAN SECURITY
Sea-Caspian basin. Thus, on 7 August 2008, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said 
while making a joint statement on the results of his bilateral meeting with Romanian 
President Traian Basescu in Baku: “Our energy policy is aimed at strengthening 
peace, stability and security in the region. Azerbaijan will continue its efforts towards 
ensuring the energy security of Europe.” The Azerbaijani president also stressed the 
need for joint steps aimed at strengthening cooperation between the states of the 
Caspian and Black Sea basins. During a meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister 
Elmar Mammadyarov on 10 November 2008 (ahead of the Baku Economic Forum), 
the EU Commissioner for Energy Andris Piebalgs said that “Azerbaijan plays an 
important role in ensuring Europe’s energy security.”2. He called his visit to Ankara, 
Baku and Ashgabat a “Nabucco journey”. The EU commissioner clearly stated that 
“my intent is to confirm to the senior leadership of these countries the political com-
mitment of the European Union to the Nabucco project”3. He also spoke about the 
new EU document “Energy Security and Solidarity Action Plan”. This once again 
proves that the energy factor plays a significant role in ensuring Europe’s security. 
It is precisely this moment that takes centre stage in Azerbaijan’s role in establis-
hing a new European security system. But the role of our country does not end here. 
The situation in the region is very complicated and differs by the presence of some 
contradictions of a geopolitical nature. NATO experts (who?) are talking about this 
specifically. Assessing the situation, they come to the conclusion that it is impossible 
to clearly determine the vector of the development of the situation in the Black Sea-
Caspian basin today. According to the experts (who?), although there are significant 
integration factors that contribute to the unification of the regional countries, we 
should not forget about the unique characteristics of region. Due to the complexity 
of the situation, it is a tool in the geopolitical game. Therefore, it requires personal 
attention to its problems. In other words, the Black Sea-Caspian basin is a site of the 
conflict of interests of various security systems.
 1 AZERBAIJAN AND ITS FOREIGN POLICY
Azerbaijan considers this to be a significant point in its foreign policy. The strategy 
of Azerbaijan’s participation in the creation of a new security system includes the 
principle of the balance of geopolitical forces. Today, NATO and the EU have no 
well-established strategy for the Black Sea-Caspian basin. Moreover, they emphasize 
that access to the Black Sea is a strategic priority for Russia. On the other hand, 
the West considers the expansion of relations between regional countries and Euro-
Atlantic organizations as promising. Azerbaijan, meanwhile, is pursuing a policy 
of strengthening and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation between producing 
countries, transit countries and consumers of energy resources and of creating the 
necessary enabling environment for the implementation of regional projects. To 
this end, Baku reinforces its policy of diversifying oil and gas supply routes from 
the Caspian basin to world and European markets via the Black Sea basin. In this 
2 See more at http://kavkaz-uzel, 11.11.2008. 
3 See more at http://energyland.info, 09.11.2008.
 148 Bilten Slovenske vojske 
context, one can mention Azerbaijan’s real steps to build the Odessa-Brody pipeline 
in the Euro-Asian oil transportation corridor for oil supplies to Europe, to establish a 
new institutional structure for the Sarmatia international pipeline company in order 
to implement the Odessa-Brody-Plock-Gdansk oil pipeline project and its efforts to 
implement joint projects on gas transit to Europe via Georgia and Turkey, including 
the Turkey-Greece-Italy interconnector, Nabucco, etc. At the same time, Azerbaijan 
is actively involved in programmes such as Partnership for Peace, Stability Pact 
and Black Sea Initiative, focusing in particular on specific programmes and initi-
atives. Azerbaijan actively supports initiatives to establish a Caspian-Black Sea-
Baltic energy transit area for joint efforts to ensure reliable and safe transportation of 
energy resources. Admittedly, this is a serious contribution to the creation of a new 
European security system. Azerbaijan’s commitment to this policy is most clearly 
seen against the background of the many years of struggle between the various 
security systems of the Black Sea-Caspian basin. It is known that on the initiative 
of Romania, the debate resumed on security and cooperation in the Black Sea basin 
in the spring of 2006. This issue was considered in the context of the programme 
“European Neighborhood Policy.” As part of this approach, an international confe-
rence on interregional cooperation in the Black Sea was held on 30 March 2006 in 
the Romanian city of Constanta. On 5 June 2006, the summit “The Black Sea Forum 
for Dialogue and Partnership” was held in Bucharest. The summit was attended by 
Black Sea heads of state, foreign ministers of EU member states, representatives 
of the United States, Israel, several international and regional organizations, busi-
nesses and experts4. The organizers of the event made no secret that the security 
problem of the Black Sea-Caspian basin is considered “in the context of processes of 
Euro-Atlantic integration”. However, this action was not continued. Perhaps, apart 
from Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), no other international Black Sea 
organization functioned effectively. Azerbaijan actively participates in the work of 
this organization which was initiated by Turkey. One could also note the work of 
the Danube Commission and the International Black Sea Club, but unlike BSEC, 
they have not been remembered for their performance. Caucasus as part of Europe 
In terms of creating a system of regional security in the Caucasus, more has been 
offered. Several options for establishing a security system have been initiated here. 
In early June 1996, Russia proposed a Big Caucasus model. But then, things were 
limited to a purely declaratory document “For interethnic accord, peace, economic 
and cultural cooperation in the Caucasus”. Further events continued according to a 
different scenario. From 1999, several projects appeared at once: “Troika” (Georgia, 
Armenia and Azerbaijan), “Ten” (Russia, the three Transcaucasian states, two trans-
Caspian states – Iran and Turkey, the EU and US), Caucasus Cooperation Forum (US 
project), the OSCE project (1999, Istanbul) and the Stability Pact for the Caucasus 
(2000, Turkey). Ankara resumed the latter after the August 2008 events between 
Georgia and Russia. The authors of all these projects gave Azerbaijan a central role 
in the creation of a Caucasus security system. Baku itself has always taken a balanced 
position in regard to these projects and in parallel, has carried out specific policies 
4 See more at Black Sea Forum supports the dialogue and cooperation // Monday, Weekly edition of South-
Caucasian Institute of regional security. 2006, № 21, (June). P.3-4.
Azer Khudiyev
 149 Bilten Slovenske vojske 
for regional integration with a strategy of integration into the Euro-Atlantic area. 
Finally, Iran made two proposals to establish a security system, but none of them was 
crowned with success. Attempts were made by Russia and the United States. They 
are all still valid. But Azerbaijan continues to react to these initiatives with restraint 
(Ryabtsev, 2003; Zaslavskiy, 2005; Matveyev).
 2 AZERBAIJAN AND SLOVENIA AS AN EXAMPLE FOR EUROPEAN 
UNION AND BLACK SEA REGION
Thus, despite rivalry between different security models in the Black Sea-Caspian 
basin, Azerbaijan has consistently maintained its policy of participation in the creation 
of a new European security system. Of course, Baku does not neglect proposals by 
its closest neighbors - for example, the same project by Russian President Dmitriy 
Medvedev to establish a new model of the European security system, of which the 
West is wary, and Turkey’s Caucasus Stability Pact. But Baku considers them in the 
context of more meaningful participation in the new architecture of the European 
security system. In the new concept of its security, the West prefers multi-polar world 
models, which implies closer cooperation between all major geopolitical forces of 
the planet, including joint action by major military blocs - NATO and the CSTO. In 
this approach, the Black Sea-Caspian basin is seen as a geopolitical area that unites 
the West and the East. The most acute problem in this way is, perhaps, the unre-
solved conflicts. The “frozen conflicts” seriously hinder the process of establishing 
a security system in Europe. As a country that has suffered from such a problem, 
Azerbaijan is extremely interested in their prompt resolution. In this context, we can 
say that Azerbaijan’s role will become more meaningful and productive after the set-
tlement of the Nagorny Karabakh problem.
Successful creation of the Black Sea/Caspian Region Security System is impossi-
ble without considering geopolitical and military factors of neighboring regions. 
From this aspect the Balkan Peninsula is of primary importance by two reasons. 
First, this region was a field of fierce political and military struggle between the 
West and Russia until recently. Secondly, today the Balkan Peninsula states have 
different levels of economic, political and military development. But at the same 
time they are members of NATO and EC: Greece, Slovenia, Romania and Bulgaria 
are the members of the European Union and Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania 
and Slovenia are the members of NATO. The Balkan Peninsula is washed by the 
Mediterranean Sea, Adriatic Sea, Ionian Sea, Aegean Sea and Black Sea in the 
southwest, south and south-east. Thus, the Black Sea/Caspian Basin security is ulti-
mately interconnected with the whole European security. And some countries of the 
Balkan Peninsula are in fact interlinks in this process.
Certain parallels can be drawn and comparative analysis of prospects of creation 
of the Black Sea/Caspian basin security system can be made by the example of 
Slovenia. We could also conduct comparative analysis of the role of Slovenia and 
Azerbaijan in creation of security system, bearing in mind that these two small 
AZERBAIJAN AND A NEW SYSTEM OF EUROPEAN SECURITY
 150 Bilten Slovenske vojske 
countries have common history of gaining independent statehood and commonality 
of geopolitical interests.
Owing to its membership in NATO for example Slovenia carries out one of the most 
important objectives of foreign policy it has set after declaration of independence. 
These objectives were determined at an intersection of three factors: adherence to 
NATO values, adherence to strategic interests in the field of security of Slovenia 
and action within national interests of Slovenia. Development of the policy of col-
lective defense, military transformation and strategic partnership relations focuses 
on adherence to these three factors. This also determines common spirit of foreign 
policy of Slovenia in the field of security and partnership relations with other states. 
By example of this country it is possible to find out the dynamics of development of 
cooperation of the European countries with the countries of the Black Sea-Caspian 
basin in the field of safety. Dynamics of development of cooperation of Slovenia 
and Azerbaijan on this side draws attention of experts. Azerbaijan stresses the close 
cooperation with Slovenia both on a bilateral basis, and within the international and 
regional organizations, including the European Union, OSCE and NATO. Slovenia 
was one of the first European countries recognized the independence of Azerbaijan. 
Histories of independence of Slovenia and Azerbaijan also are similar. Both countries 
over a long period of time were the parts of other countries and achieved the state 
independence almost simultaneously.
The efforts of Azerbaijan and Slovenia in a direction of maintenance of energy 
assurance of Europe influence the dynamics of development of inter-regional inte-
gration. During the first visit to Azerbaijan, the president of Slovenia Danilo Turk 
has some times paid attention to this question. In the light of development of coo-
peration of the European Union with Azerbaijan Slovenia looks at the prospects of 
development of cooperation with Azerbaijan. Slovenia and Azerbaijan make every 
endeavor for strengthening of good neighborhood communications, safety, coopera-
tion and mutual respect between the countries of the Black Sea-Caspian basin and 
Balkan States. In this aspect stable and successful Azerbaijan playing a key role 
in the region, has exclusive value for Europe and all world. By means of creative 
and open dialogue, Azerbaijan and Slovenia with the same persistence which they 
showed till now will continue to bring the contribution to creation of new system of 
the European security.
Ivo H. Daalder, US Ambassador to NATO, giving a speech titled “NATO’s 
Partnership” in Vilnius on January 15, 2010 said: “History has taught the United 
States that security risks in the Western Balkans, the Caucasus – even Central Asia – 
cannot be ignored by America or NATO, and that the security of all of Europe is 
integral to the national security of both the United States and NATO.” Further, the 
Ambassador noted the following: “NATO partnerships have never been a threat to 
Russia, which should understand that it can benefit from democracy, stability, and 
prosperity in its neighborhood.” From this aspect the USA – Europe (including the 
Western Balkans) – Black Sea Basin – Caucasus – Central Asia is integral parts of 
Conclusion
Bibliography
Azer Khudiyev
 151 Bilten Slovenske vojske 
a uniform system of global security. All this indicates that at the present historical 
stage the security issue has global character and here dialogue diplomacy must play a 
key role in order that all countries of the world could take advantages of democracy, 
stability and prosperity in their neighborhood.
The initiative of the European Union “East partnership” offers new challenges for 
our cooperation. The efforts of Azerbaijan in a direction of maintenance of energy 
assurance of Europe influence the dynamics of development of inter-regional inte-
gration. The European Union tend to more active cooperation with the neighbors 
on Caucasus. To that end we should make active encouragement of this cooperation 
which will provide the steady peace, stability, safety and well-being on our continent. 
Azerbaijan makes every endeavor for strengthening of good neighborhood commu-
nications, safety, cooperation and mutual respect between the countries of the Black 
Sea-Caspian basin. In this aspect stable and successful Azerbaijan playing a key role 
in the region, has exclusive value for Europe and all world. By means of creative 
and open dialogue, Azerbaijan with the same persistence which they showed till now 
will continue to bring the contribution to creation of new system of the European 
security.
Thus, the question of formation of architecture of the European safety is very difficult, 
and assumes to consider set of factors. In this context, actual mechanisms of a com-
bination of systems of safety of the Black Sea-Caspian basin and the countries of 
the Central and Southeast Europe are represented (Balkan Peninsula). Geographical 
countries of the Central and Southeast Europe are connecting link between EU and 
the Black Sea-Caspian region. Collective defense, military transformation and deve-
lopment of strategic partnership – are highlights of this integration. Harmonization 
and realization of these purposes in many respects depends on dialogue diplomacy 
being effective. It is an essential moment. Mutual understanding of military blocs 
directly depends on this factor. Also, skilled diplomats, analysts, politicians (for 
example, Z.Bzejinsky) and experts during last times often speak about necessity 
of dialogue between the NATO and CSTO. Dialogue diplomacy in this process is 
unique civilized and democratic way of dialogue. This problem has difficult structure 
of itself and in its solution all parties should show a high sense of responsibility, 
mutual respect, justice and professionalism. Doubtless the Management of public 
diplomacy created in the structure of NATO, will play a key role in the formation 
of the general mechanism of dialogue diplomacy in the process of creation of new 
system of the European safety. We are firmly convinced that Azerbaijan’s role in 
creation of a European security system will largely depend on prospects of dialog 
diplomacy.
1. Adiyev А., Ryabtsev, V. Geopolitics of zone «Black Sea region-Caucasus–Caspian region» 
(a), http://odnarodyna.ru/articles/2/230.html
2. Adiyev А., Ryabtsev, V. Geopolitics of zone «Black Sea region-Caucasus–Caspian region» 
(b), http:odnarodyna.ru/articles/2/230.html
Conclusion
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Azer Khudiyev