Aliyev: receipt by Azerbaijan of observer status in SCO delayed for reasons unclear to us
BAKU. Feb 24 (Interfax) - Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has commented on the possibility of the country joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
"As to the SCO, we are already involved in some sense. We have been dialogue partners, it's the first stage, for more than one year. The second stage is as observers, and we asked the SCO secretariat several years ago to elevate our status to observer status. But unfortunately, this issue has not been resolved yet. My contacts in the administrations of Russia, China and other SCO members say there are no reasons for our status not to be elevated. But it is not happening for reasons unknown to us," Aliyev said at a meeting with the heads of the leading Russian media in Moscow.
Azerbaijan follows its national interests in the issue of accession to the CSTO, the president said.
"Concerning other integration projects, we proceed from expediency and from whether it is in line with our national interests. A step has been taken to elevate the level of military and political cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia. I think it's not a secret to anyone that Russia plays a leading role in the CSTO. It has recently been demonstrated in the CIS space. It was clear to everyone even before the events in Kazakhstan. Having allied relations with the Russian Federation and two items out of 43 that speak directly about issues associated with the provision of military assistance if the need arises - these are Item 6 and Item 16 - I think it's quite enough as it is clear that the CSTO is the CSTO for as long as Russia is there. If Russia is not in the CSTO, no one will even think about the CSTO. We proceed from that," he said.
Azerbaijan has "very trusting and close relations" with other CSTO members except for Armenia, he said. "I think relations with Armenia will also normalize after the end of the Second Karabakh War; at least we have officially stated a wish to sign a peace treaty with Armenia. Probably it will happen at some point. But in today's geopolitical reality, we need to be realistic, not try to achieve what cannot be achieved; it's important to move in the direction of establishing lasting peace in the Caucasus," he said.
Aliyev also said Azerbaijan's accession to the EAEU is possible on condition that it keeps its economic sovereignty. "We proceed from how it will be in line with our economic interests. Our strategy and tactical steps have always been based on our own resources. We have managed to create a self-sufficient economy and not depend on international financial institutions, or any kind of funding, and therefore we will analyze everything from a pragmatic viewpoint. That issue was discussed yesterday in the meeting with the Russian prime minister, and our position was openly communicated to the Russian side. We should put in front of ourselves two sheets of paper with pluses and with some possible restrictions, where our economic sovereignty can to a certain extent be adjusted. Naturally, a decision profitable to us will be made," the Azerbaijani president said.