Aliyar Azimov

The lack of sufficient energy resources in the EU region has made this region dependent on imports. The crisis in 2006 and 2009 was an alarming signal for the EU. These crises have led the EU to take serious steps in the field of energy. The main research findings were to find answers the following research questions: First, why is it difficult to establish a common energy policy for the EU? Second, how does the EU pursue a policy for a competitive energy market and ensuring the security of supply? The main aim of the EU to diversify energy routes and to make more competitive prices in the energy market. However, Azerbaijan is a strategic and reliable partner for the EU because of its geographical position and energy resources. Energy resources in the Caspian Sea are important to the EU and Azerbaijan is the ideal destination for the transportation of these resources. Thus, after many years the EU has taken an important step on behalf of energy security by implementing the SGC project in the frame of cooperation with Azerbaijan.

This paper is focusing on the Southern Gas Corridor and possible energy interests and threats by Russia on energy corridor. In the first part of this essay, a brief history of the energy policy of Azerbaijan has been widely discussed. It includes the period starting from the independence in 1991 till the current period. In the second part of the essay, evaluation of Southern Gas Corridor has been explained from different aspects. This chapter studies strategic energy corporation between Azerbaijan and the EU in the Southern Gas Corridor context. The role of TAP and TANAP projects, route of Southern Gas Corridor, and political and economic aspects of energy corporation between Azerbaijan and the EU have been widely examined. Very last part of essay dedicated to Russian interests and possible threats to the Southern Gas Corridor, and all facts and political-economic aspects are emphasized.

Radical changes took place in the international relations system in the 1990s. In particular, the collapse of the USSR necessitated the formation of a "new world order." The South Caucasus started to be governed by three states in the post-Soviet period. The geopolitical scene of the South Caucasus changed by the dissolution of the USSR, and new opportunities emerged for the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran had deep historical ties with the South Caucasus and new conditions in the region brought the need for a new direction in terms of pursuing an active foreign policy to gain creditability in the international arena. The formation of relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Islamic Republic of Iran is based on political, economic, and security factors. In an effort to step on the path of becoming a regional power a long time after the collapse of the USSR, Iran has been interested in cooperation with Armenia to strengthen its position in the South Caucasus. Armenia, meanwhile, has tried to get the support of Iran along with Russia to maintain its political presence in the region.

The EU is making significant efforts to diversify its energy supply and deliver Caspian gas to Europe without Russian intervention. On the other hand, procedures between the EU and Azerbaijan show that Azerbaijan is interested in independent cooperation with the EU. Although the Nabucco project failed, with the choice of TAP and TANAP projects, Azerbaijan proved its pragmatic partnership and its aim to increase revenues. At the same time, from its independence, the absence of internal conflicts in Azerbaijan, continuous promotion of peace, active involvement in international missions resulted in a robust, durable and stable economy and political system. In fact, as long as Azerbaijan is interested in delivering energy to the West by supporting transit projects, the EU does not face any difficulties in the region.

Germany is one of the giant countries in Europe that contributes largely the EU’s economy. On the other hand, Russia is the main energy trade partner of the EU and today Russia supplies 35% of the gas demand of Europe. Russian-German relations are formed with the idea of “strategic partnership”. Official closer relations, called “strategic partnership”, have started in the Putin’s period in 2000 when Gerhard Schröder was a chancellor. These relations were based on the personal friendship of Putin and Schröder. Since 2000, the relations between Russia and Germany have intensified. In a short time, Germany became Russia’s biggest trading partner. In fact, a partnership between Russia and Germany covers all spheres of their economies, but the energy sector has the utmost importance in terms of trading relations. Russian-German partnership is important for the EU as well, because the EU, particularly CEE region is highly dependent on Russian energy. The largest gas trade between the EU and Russia was initiated by the North Stream project. Russia sells 55 billion cubic meters gas with this pipeline to Europe. Currently, Russia tries to implement North Stream-2 pipeline project, which Germany also gives a great support for the realization of this project.

In his initial period, he showed great intention to change everything from zero. However, Pashinyan could not maintain the absolute power in his hands; he literally failed to democratize Armenia. Defeated by his rivals in internal strife, Pashinyan could not withstand the pressure and made a U-turn in his promises on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He started to provoke both sides and raise tension first by making a speech during his visit to Iran, stating "Karabakh is Armenia and that is it." Right after this speech, he visited Shusha city to participate in the events in occupied territories; later he sent his son to the military service, who served in the occupied territories.

The development of east-west energy corridor in the South Caucasus allowed Azerbaijan and Georgia to involve in the projects as the main partners and to promote the development of the infrastructure by improving the macro-economic environment and international integration. Turkey also gives support to the international projects in the region and deepening the multilateral relations between Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey also promotes and intra-regional cooperation and diplomatic resolutions of regional problems. This cooperation is the most functional; it is built on interdependence by trade and transportation relations.

Iran is an ancient nation known as Persia, which has a long and glorious history. Unlike many other empires, Persia (Iran) managed to keep stability, to prevent losing territory and to remain its independence. The modern history of Iran started from nationalist movements against the Shah (a person, who is in power) in 1905, and continued with the adoption of the new limited constitution in 1906. In 1921, Reza Khan took control and made himself Shah in 1925 and installed new Pahlavi dynasty. Under his leadership, Iran became to be a modern country and secularized its policy. Iran is adopted as the country’s official name in 1935. Ayatollah Khomeini was the spiritual leader during 1970’s and consequently, Khomeini took power by the result of the Islamic revolution and started to lead the country after returning from years in exile in France.
This paper is analyzing different periods of Iran Islamic Republic regarding its foreign policy, diplomatic missions, conflicts, treaties, and geopolitical position based on different sources.

XX əsrin 80-ci illərinin sonlarında Ermənistan növbəti dəfə Azərbaycana qarşı əsassız ərazi iddiları irəli sürdü. Ölkəmizin tarixi-əzəli hissəsi olan Dağlıq Qarabağ bölgəsində Rusiyanın hər tərəfli himayəsi ilə yeni erməni separatçılığına rəvac verildi. Bu zəmində Ermənistanla Azərbaycan arasında münaqişə yarandı. 1988-1993-cü illərdə Yuxarı Qarabağ da daxil olmaqla, Şimali Azərbaycanın 13.210 km2 ərazisi Rusiya və Ermənistan qoşunları tərəfindən işğal olundu. “Dağlıq Qarabağ problemi”nin ortaya atılmasından indiyədək onu həllinə yönəlik çoxlu beynəlxalq səylər və cəhdlər olmuşdur. Xeyli sayda beynəlxalq və regional təşkilat münaqişənin tənzimlənməsi istiqamətində çalışmışdır.1992-ci il martın 24-də ATƏT-in Nazirlər Şurasının iclasında Dağlıq Qarabağ münaqişəsinin həlli üçün Minsk qrupu yaradıldı. Həmsədrlər tərəfindən 1997-ci ilin iyununda DQ münaqişəsinin həlli ilə bağlı ilk təklif Azərbaycan və Ermənistana təqdim edildi. İlk təklif problemin paket həllini nəzərdə tuturdu. Həmsədrlərin verdiyi ikinci təklif də “Mərhələli plan” adlanırdı. Bu təklif 1997-ci ilin sentyabrında verildi. 1999-cu ilin noyabrında münaqişənin həllinə dair üçüncü bir təklif irəli sürüldü. Bu təklif “Ümumi dövlət” təklifi adlanırdı.

This paper analyzes Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic within decentralization framework. The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (Azerbaijani: Naxçıvan Muxtar Respublikası) is a landlocked exclave of the Republic of Azerbaijan with its legislation, constitution, economy and political structures.