GLOBAL SECURITY AT RISK

In early February, Munich hosted the 46th International Conference on Security Policy. In recent decades, this forum has become the most important and influential international event on this issue - it is even informally dubbed "the Davos of security policy". The conference, which annually brings together leading political figures and experts from around the world, discusses the most pressing security issues of the present and the future. This time, the organizers decided to draw the attention of about 300 high-ranking participants from over 40 countries to the following issues: "Resource Security and Shifting Global Power", "The Future of European and Global Security" and "The Future of Arms Control and the NPT. Is Zero Possible?"

The tradition of holding the annual Munich Conference on Security Policy was founded by Germany's largest publisher and public figure Ewald von Kleist in 1962. Initially, it was planned as a meeting of defence ministers of NATO member countries with the aim of expert advice on transatlantic partnership. Conferences were held under the auspices and with the sponsorship of the Christian Social Union of Bavaria and were called conferences on military affairs until 1993. Since 1998, the event has been funded by the government of Germany from the Defence Ministry's budget.

Thus, the forum on security in Munich was a closed NATO meeting for more than 30 years. Over time, the geographical coverage of the conference significantly increased to include Russia (since 1995), the CIS and Baltic States, Central and Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, South Asia and the Middle East. The agenda also expanded considerably. Currently, it includes such topical issues of world politics as international terrorism, reform of the UN, the OSCE and NATO, the situation in "hot spots" and the strengthening of regional and global security.

In 1998, Ewald von Kleist presided over the conference for the last time. In 1999-2008, this role was played by Horst Teltschik, a former adviser to German Chancellor Helmut Kohl for foreign and defence affairs. Since 2009, the conference has been chaired by a German lawyer, human rights activist and West Germany's former ambassador to the US and the UK, Wolfgang Ischinger.

An informal dialogue, personal contacts between participants and the discussion of promising ideas in the field of security policy, which are further developed within various multilateral formats, are in the tradition of the Munich Forum. Although the conference does not take specific decisions and does not even adopt a joint communique after the meeting, the Munich conference has become an important international forum to resolve current political and politico-economic issues.

This year, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev participated in the Munich conference (mostly defence ministers, foreign ministers of leading states, parliamentarians and prominent military experts) along with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. The invitation to the leader of Azerbaijan to take part in this prestigious forum reflects the role that our country currently plays in the context of international security as a major exporter of oil and gas and due to Azerbaijan's strategic location at the geopolitical North-South and East-West crossroads.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan did not receive such an invitation despite lobbying and efforts by the Armenian diaspora. He was forced to participate only in events incomparable with the Munich conference, for example, in a seminar by the British Royal Institute of International Affairs "Values and Security in the South Caucasus", which took place in London almost at the same time.

President Ilham Aliyev delivered a speech at the Munich conference during discussions on the topic "Resource Security and Shifting Global Power." Speaking about the importance of energy security for the modern world, Aliyev mentioned the policies and achievements of Azerbaijan in this direction and the successful implementation of world-scale oil and gas projects with leading energy corporations, which turned our country into a key player on this market. The head of state noted that the stability and reliability of oil and gas produced in Azerbaijan are secured by the diversification of pipelines in different directions.

Referring to the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, President Ilham Aliyev noted that this problem is a serious obstacle to peace, security and development of cooperation in the region. He stressed that as a result of Armenia's aggressive policy, part of Azerbaijani territory has been occupied and one million Azerbaijanis have become refugees and internally displaced persons. "The conflict can be resolved only within the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan," Ilham Aliyev said.

The ensuing discussion was joined by the chief executive officer of Germany's largest energy company RWE, Juergen Grossmann, the chief executive officer of the French company AREVA Anne Lauvergeon, US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg and the deputy chairman of Russia's State Duma, Valeriy Yazev. In conclusion, the Azerbaijani head of state answered questions from participants.

Prior to his speech at the security conference, President Ilham Aliyev held talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel as part of his official visit to Germany. In Munich, the president also met with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg to exchange views on the situation surrounding the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, bilateral relations and important regional issues. In addition, the president of Azerbaijan spoke to Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki, etc.

However, this time the Munich conference did not witness sensational statements like the speech that Putin made two years ago - it was seen almost as the beginning of a new "Cold War" - or last year's speech by US Vice President Joe Biden who announced the "resetting" of US-Russian relations.

The attention of the participants and the international media was focused on Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov who explained Moscow's idea of supplementing the contractual and legal architecture of security in the continent with new realities. "Over the past 20 years, European security has been seriously shattered by all parameters," the Russian diplomat said, noting that "the demand for confrontational approaches in the Euro-Atlantic area" has fallen. The Russian foreign minister described the situation as "atrophy of the OSCE." This organization, in his view, is unable to realize the principle of the indivisibility of security throughout the Euro-Atlantic area. The issue is about the principle according to which the security of a member of the OSCE cannot be ensured to the detriment of the security of another member country of the organization.

In response, the US deputy secretaries of state, Philip Gordon and James Steinberg, without questioning Russia's concerns, noted that for the time being, it is more logical to address the current and emerging issues based on existing institutions, for example, within the framework of the OSCE or the Russia-NATO Council. The United States is not convinced that the Russian-backed treaty will be "an effective way to improve the situation." It was noted that even if the document is signed after long discussions and then ratified by 55 countries, "who will monitor its implementation?" Nevertheless, Washington is not shutting the door to discuss Russian proposals.

The journalists, covering the Munich conference, noted that if Russia expressed concern over plans to deploy US missile defence systems in Romania, NATO Secretary General Rasmussen said that Russia's new military doctrine, according to which the expansion of NATO to the East is a threat to Moscow, did not reflect the reality. "NATO is not an enemy of Russia," he said.

The conference, as before, did not plan to adopt any final documents. A direct dialogue on topical issues was more important. However, the attitudes, expectations and interests of different states, as well as arguments and counterarguments will certainly be taken into account while developing these or other security-related decisions and shaping the foreign policy and military strategy. Ilham Aliyev's participation in the 46th Munich conference not only drew attention to issues directly affecting the security of the South Caucasus, but, in light of impressions and information, will allow Baku to develop a more accurate policy in this area.