Solution to numerous problems the independent Republic of Azerbaijan faced inside and outside the country depended on the level of realization of the country’s integration into the global community, quality of bilateral and multilateral relations with other countries, establishment and development of mutual useful relations with them. Governed by this reality, the Republic of Azerbaijan has preferred the leading states of the West in the identification of the directions and priorities of foreign policy. 

After restoring independence, the Republic of Azerbaijan established close relations with the West. The leading states of the West possessed shares in the international oil contracts featuring the exploitation of Azerbaijan’s energy resources, a number of states guaranteed their economic interests in Azerbaijan. 

The Republic of Azerbaijan is also interested in developing multilateral cooperation within influential international organizations. Relationships with the Western nations are developed via such influential international organizations as the UN, COE, NATO, OSCE.

In addition, leading states in the West France and Germany are members of the OSCE Minsk group created to resolve the Armenian-Azerbaijani, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and France is also one of the co-chair states responsible for the settlement of the conflict. Just for this purpose, building a mutual fruitful cooperation with those states is of huge importance for the Republic of Azerbaijan to use their potential for the solution of this problem. Unfortunately, France approaches the issue with double standards though it co-chairs the Minsk group. The present state of the peace negotiations held between Armenia and Azerbaijan via the Minsk group, which demonstrates a double position in the resolution of the conflict, shows neither citizens suffering from the war nor the people of Azerbaijan are pleased. 

For its security, territorial integrity and independence, Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the relations with the West. The development of these relations encourages Azerbaijan’s political and economic progress, realization of Caspian oil-gas projects, creation of transregional corridors between East and West. Cooperation between Azerbaijan and the West is the key element in the integration of the country into the global economic system.

Laman Khalilova,
Activist, "Azerbaijan Realities" group.