The actions of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the international stage, in both defending territorial integrity and in generating and refining the methodology for the functioning of international organizations, have been so effective that despite being at war with Armenia, Azerbaijan was unanimously elected to chair the Non-Aligned Movement from 2019 to 2022. Subsequently, the 120 member states of this organization, fully trusting Azerbaijan’s competence as chair, extended this status until 2024.
The unique multifaceted nature of the initiatives carried out on the international stage astonishes even the most experienced diplomats. The deep understanding of the situation and the remarkable insight with which Ilham Aliyev responded to how leading international organizations – the UN General Assembly, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, and the OSCE – adopted resolutions calling for the de-occupation of Azerbaijani lands and the withdrawal of Armenian troops, yet could not overcome the declarative nature of these decisions, revealing a policy of double standards in resolving similar ethnopolitical conflicts.
Aliyev’s Vision for the UN Security Council
Ilham Aliyev practically single-handedly battled with world leaders, striving for the fulfillment of the intended mission of international organizations.
Speaking in September 2020 to the delegates of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, President Aliyev clearly and convincingly articulated the historical necessity of employing international mechanisms capable of ensuring the real implementation of Security Council resolutions for the de-occupation of Azerbaijan’s sovereign territories. Specifically, the Azerbaijani leader proposed reforming the UN Security Council to include permanent representatives of Islamic and non-aligned countries.
Aliyev first voiced this idea during negotiations with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on January 28, 2023, in Baku. “One permanent seat (on the UN Security Council – ed.) should be allocated to members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the OIC should nominate its candidate based on consultations,” the head of state emphasized. “Another permanent seat should be allocated to the Non-Aligned Movement, and this seat should go to the country chairing it.”
Ilham Aliyev stated that such a reform “would be fair” as it had the potential to create a more secure and stable world. Earlier, in November 2022, during a visit to Serbia, Ilham Aliyev urged the international community to consider the effectiveness of international organizations’ activities.
Using numerous attempts to resolve the Karabakh conflict as an example, Ilham Aliyev highlighted that for many years, leading international organizations had adopted “important and fair decisions and resolutions” regarding the situation with Armenia and Azerbaijan, yet this did not help to find a solution.
In this context, the Azerbaijani president highlighted four Security Council resolutions declaring the necessity of “immediate, unconditional, and complete withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from Azerbaijani territories.” With bitter irony, Ilham Aliyev noted that in some cases, Security Council decisions are implemented within days, sometimes even hours, but in Azerbaijan’s case, it took 27 years (!!) to achieve enforcement.
The analysis conducted by the Azerbaijani president unveiled the basis of his proposed reforms. They entailed a meticulous consideration by the international community of proposals for reforming international organizations, aiming to increase their efficiency.
“Otherwise,” the head of state emphasized, “the implementation process of decisions will continue to face various conflicts, mainly of a subjective nature.” Consistently pointing out deformations in the activities of the UN and other international organizations, Aliyev has repeatedly emphasized Azerbaijan’s unilateral compliance with Security Council decisions, while Armenia blatantly and cynically ignored them.
Aliyev’s “Non-Aligned Model”
Of particular note is Ilham Aliyev’s work within the international community to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Chairing the Non-Aligned Movement, Azerbaijan proposed a special session of the UN General Assembly dedicated to global efforts against the pandemic.
Overall, Azerbaijan’s opposition to “vaccine nationalism” during the pandemic as the leader of the Non-Aligned Movement, President Aliyev’s assertiveness and initiative in implementing global measures to combat the pandemic, and the provision of substantial financial and humanitarian aid to more than 80 countries, illustrated Azerbaijan’s commitment to universal values. Yet, Ilham Aliyev did not stop there.
In 2021, at a meeting in Belgrade, he proposed holding a summit of Non-Aligned Movement member states to jointly formulate a position on the post-COVID period. Specifically, Ilham Aliyev suggested supporting post-pandemic recovery in Africa and small island developing states. According to independent observers, significant progress was made during Azerbaijan’s chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement.
The scope of the Movement’s activities expanded, becoming a global political force with a decisive voice in the world today. Under Azerbaijan’s chairmanship, the Non-Aligned Movement has taught the world a lesson in justice, objectivity, and impartiality in addressing both global and regional problems. This has all occurred amidst intensive humanitarian aid efforts, benefiting 90 countries worldwide. Furthermore, the Azerbaijani International Development Agency implemented projects in various countries to reduce unemployment, develop science, art, healthcare, and rational use of water resources, grant programs, and more.
Since 2018, Azerbaijan has provided fully funded scholarships to citizens of Non-Aligned Movement member countries to pursue higher education in Azerbaijani universities. Supporting the institutional development of the Non-Aligned Movement, Azerbaijan also initiated the creation of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network, which held its first meeting in Baku in June 2022.
In a world where the norms of international law are distorted, where the standards of public morality are anathematized, and where dualism and double standards dominate the resolution of ethnopolitical, separatist, and territorial issues, Azerbaijan, even in a state of military conflict with Armenia, serves as an example of internal harmony and a positive model of socio-political and economic stability.
Aliyev’s Vision of a “Green World Order”
Another concept by Aliyev that reveals a new profile of the country is Azerbaijan’s growing image as a state actively involved in environmental protection and global ecological issues. It is no coincidence that Baku was chosen as the venue for the UN COP29 climate summit, making it a global center for discussing ecological, climate, and demographic problems.
The position of Amnesty International’s climate policy advisor, Ann Harrison, is noteworthy: “This session can help set the course for a successful COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan, based on human rights, including through defining a clear path to a full, rapid, fair, and well-financed phase-out of fossil fuels… COP29 should focus on significantly scaling up climate finance, especially for countries historically responsible for the largest greenhouse gas emissions.”
Thus, Aliyev’s three concepts have made and continue to make a significant contribution not only to updating the outdated and crumbling facade of the global diplomatic and intergovernmental system and the activities of leading international organizations and institutions but also to the formation of a new just world order that will end wars between worlds and civilizations.
Adem Ismail Bakuvi
Translated from haqqin.az
