According to Azerbaijan, in all world troubles feels the «hand of Armenia»

PanARMENIAN.Net - Against the background of the slightly changing Russian-Turkish and Armenian-Turkish relations, President of Azerbaijan decided to just in case find an alternative for the delivery of the Azerbaijani gas to Europe through Georgia. It is no secret that this was the main aim of Ilham Aliyev's visit to Athens. "Azerbaijan makes every effort to strengthen the energy security of Europe and expects to export gas to Europe through Georgia," declared Aliyev in Athens on Monday. One could say this statement was a signal to Ankara: there can be found an alternative to Turkey as a transit country . Let us note that the statement was made on the background of circulating anti-Turkish campaign in the Azeri press. Well, this campaign is not yet fully anti-Turkish but if the impossible occurs and the Armenian-Turkish border is opened, there would be more than enough reasons for Baku to severely criticize her «brotherly partner». Baku considers that if Erdogan can venture upon harsh declarations about Israel, Baku can do the same with respect to Ankara.

However, the situation is not that simple. Ilham Aliyev knows the game directive brilliantly well and lays special emphasis on the «European energy security», which is under threat because of the «gas war» between Ukraine and Russia. There is no guarantee that the war will not break out again, that is why gas exporting states are now trying their best to draw the attention of Europe. Some of them succeed, some of them fail, but both Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan fail to notice the two central players of this game: Iran and Russia. If the US-Iranian relations indeed improve (and we are gradually coming to it), Iran will have an opportunity to profitably transport gas to Europe and, quite obviously, at an acceptable price. The same is true about Russia. No matter how critically «Gazprom» is treated now, it can afford to purchase the Azerbaijani gas and sell it at a profitable price.

Nabucco awaits a similar fate. It is still a question whether the Nabucco project will be carried out or not, but it can be said for sure that it can never be put into effect without participation of Iran and Turkey, while Azerbaijan is not a necessary component in this issue. Lately Kaan Soyak, co-founder and co-chairman of the Turkish-Armenian Business Development Council, said "Nabucco may well pass through Armenia", which caused a burst of anger in Baku. The map shows Armenia is really a suitable transit country for the Nabucco pipeline, only if the latter should not become a second Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan.

Supposedly, Aliyev's foreign tours and statements are all closely related to the Referendum due in March, the outcome of which is quite predictable. Actually all that is done and spoken about in Baku at least by officials or those «authorized to speak», is exactly directed to that. That is why no one is any longer surprised at the tactless comments of the Press Secretary of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry about the President of another country. All is fair in war, but Baku fails to differentiate between criticism and foul language used against Armenia. However, it is also useless to teach Baku lessons of good conduct since offspring of nomads will never be able to learn this lesson.

The interesting point is that in any occurrence which is directly or marginally related to Azerbaijan, Baku begins to nervously search an «Armenian spot». Hardly can all this be stipulated in the declarations signed by Ilham Aliyev and in the liability criteria of joining the EC. As usual, Vafa Guluzade could not stay aloof. His «oracles» may finally lead Azerbaijan into a dead end, from where she can never crawl out again. After all, a deadlock is a deadlock.

"Azerbaijan has no other way-out but to preserve close ties with the West. This is the guarantee of our security. Russia has made its choice, she has chosen Armenia, and we must strengthen our western orientation as counterbalance to the Armenian-Russian alliance. You see, they join their air defense forces, their economies, thus leaving us no alternative but join the western world," Guluzade said.

It is simply interesting to know what Baku Agitation and Propaganda Department has prepared after the failed bluff of «Russia's selling Armenia military hardware with a total cost of USD800 million». Most likely, the new «story» will refer to the new US Administration, which is surely reconsidering its attitude towards Azerbaijan, remembering the «bad» inheritance of ex-Vice President Dick Cheney and, in all probability, that of very soon former Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Mathew Bryza. It is not out of place to remind that for the 8 years of Bush's rule as co-chairs for the OSCE Minsk Group mainly representatives of oil lobbywere chosen. If Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton in fact want to change their foreign policy they should appoint a more independent a co-chair, in whose appointment Baku once again would try to find the track of the «Armenian lobby».