Last year was memorable due to many events. Contradictions, crises and armed clashes were registered in different parts of the world and some thought-provoking aspects have surfaced in the relations between major powers. Azerbaijan also saw notable events in 2013 while achievements in domestic and foreign policy boosted country’s international prominence.
Azerbaijan 2013: year of ascend
2013 will be remembered as a period of contentious, dynamic and yet fascinating geopolitical processes. Several general trends can be identified, if the events developing globally are viewed from the same angle. One intriguing picture emerges that compels reflection on the course of the humanity’s evolution and requires respective conclusions to be made. Other than that, success of the course chosen by Azerbaijan was embodied by the achievements attained in 2013, suggesting the year behind us will be remembered in the history as special.
Let us first focus on the events that were significant for Azerbaijan in 2013. First and foremost, the presidential elections need to be highlighted. Elections held last year, on October the 9th, in many ways reflected the substance of the changes in the country. As a society, Azerbaijan has proven that in politics there was no alternative to Ilham Aliyev. This has to be recognized as a historical choice of the public opinion.
First, Ilham Aliyev is fully embraced by the society as a role model of high political professionalism and culture. Azerbaijani citizens are now able to distinguish political pluralism from arbitrariness, and populism from efficient performance. These are the cornerstones along the path of building a democracy. Second, presidential elections re-attested to the coherence of the Azerbaijani society. In this regard, Azerbaijan is the only country in the South Caucasus to successfully ensure effective conformity of both domestic and foreign policy. It is accurate to say that independent state building in Azerbaijan is completed. This is a strategically crucial aspect. Third, citizens approve the course of modernization implemented by Ilham Aliyev and believe in its prospects; one of the key factors here is the significant phase of state building that country enters.
2013 will remain a memorable year with respect to Azerbaijan’s international performance, with the Presidency in the UN Security Council worthy of particular emphasis. For the first time, Azerbaijan assumed that position in May 2012, and October 2013 was the time of the second presidency for our country. During that time Azerbaijan initiated valuable deliberations on important issues and organized number of high-profile meetings.
Resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict remained a strategic priority of the foreign policy agenda in 2013. Country’s diplomacy attained new successes on this front. Yerevan’s international posture on this issue was significantly shaken. Thanks to its effective energy policy Azerbaijan yet again proved to the world that Armenia’s foreign policy was self-defeating.
In the area of energy policy we have witnessed the next milestone. Trans-Adriatic pipeline (TAP) was selected as the main export route and 17 December was the day when final investment agreement on “Shahdeniz-2” project was signed.
Azerbaijan’s achievements throughout the entire spectrum were among the remarkable elements of 2013. One of the indications of that was the announcement of 2013 the “Year of Information-Communication Technologies”. It’s a leading area of the modern age and role of the ICT in management and social-economic growth is constantly growing. Azerbaijan rigorously pursues the course of harnessing the ICT resources to the extent of that of leading economies of the world. In this connection, launching of the country’s first satellite in 2013 introduced Azerbaijan into the club of space nations.
On top of that, Azerbaijan’s increasing economic rating must not be forgotten. Azerbaijan managed to maintain the macroeconomic stability in 2013. Economy’s diversification has deepened and accelerated. Non-oil sector growth was noteworthy. Regions of the country continued to develop and country’s foreign exchange reserves have reached new heights. Free competition and favorable investment conditions were created to spur private sector growth that in turn led to better social welfare of the nation. Country’s gross domestic product reached AZN 52.1 million ($66.3 million), with production accounting for 63.5%.
All of the aforementioned proves that Azerbaijan has reached the next level of economic development. Reforms throughout all the fields are being deepened and broadened. Azerbaijan’s social-economic and cultural progress is coupled with rising international prominence. In his national address on the occasion of the New Year and the Day of Solidarity of Azerbaijanis of the World President Ilham Aliyev said: “2013 was a successful year for our country. Comprehensive development of our country gladdens every citizen. Our international position was solidified. Azerbaijan’s ties in bilateral and multilateral format grew and became more consolidated. We have actively performed within all the international organizations to which we are members of and received broad international support” (see President Ilham Aliyev’s National address on the occasion of the New Year and the Day of Solidarity of Azerbaijanis of the World / “Azertag”, 1 January 2014).
The world: from crises to geopolitical novelty
In 2013 events occurred around the globe with some fascinating features concerning the future geopolitical landscape of the world. The region of the Middle East has to be particularly highlighted. Syria emerged as the battleground in the struggle between the global geopolitical powers of the world. This country became a place where global powers tried to set things straight. On the other hand, the country served as the motivation to provoke new situation with respect to the role of sectarianism in politics. From now on, sectarian factor would presumably constitute more political substance in the Muslim nations.
Along with Syria, Iran also remained a pressing topic of the global political agenda. Tehran’s promises to restrict its nuclear program in exchange for mitigation of sanctions can be viewed as a significant geopolitical factor. Experts consider this event as one capable of changing the geopolitical balance of power, not only in the Middle East but also in the world.
Military coup in Egypt, we believe, is to be considered a significant event of the year because it showcased the extent of resilience of the Islamic ideology oriented political forces on modern geopolitical scene. It is not accidental that some experts believe that Egypt events will be crucial for the political fate of the Muslim countries as a whole.
Leak of classified information to the media by Edward Snowden is thought to be another notable event of 2013. Indeed, this event provoked tensions between the U.S. and several other countries and highlighted the urgency of defining the boundaries of intelligence activity.
Finally, processes developing in Ukraine cannot be dismissed, owing to its potential of causing great ramifications for the entire post-Soviet space. It may be assumed that Kiev’s choice in 2014 would shift the geopolitical dynamics in the Eurasian space.
In the meantime, U.S.-China relations aggravated in 2013; with Pacific and the Central Asia serving as the main theatres of activity. African continent also saw fiercer struggle for clout. According to the experts, such a situation would provoke new contentious geopolitical picture in the region on the backdrop of NATO troop pullout from Afghanistan in 2014. Rampant terrorism is expected to ensue, including rise of “Al-Qaeda” activity in the Central Asia, Russia and China.
Thus, for the world politics, the 2013 was the year abundant with principal and critical novelties. It underpins the projection that foundation of the processes to impact the fate of the humanity in 2014 was laid. In this sense, the 2013 can be seen as the beginning of the new world order, albeit with great toll upon the world, but that perhaps is how novelty paves its way.
Kaynak: Newtimes.az
