Even those who argue from a biased position will easily agree that the Congress of the ruling party, with over 760,000 members, is a landmark event in the country’s political history. We would not be mistaken if we also note that any decision adopted and any opinion expressed at the Congress of the ruling party is not directly related to the future of the party itself. Of course, we can assume that malicious forces, taking into account the political weight of the event and always looking for a high platform for scandal, have also prepared well for the aforementioned Congress. Looking at their zeal in the internet space, one gets the impression that these forces have prepared more for the Congress of the New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) than the organizers of the event.
When President Ilham Aliyev spoke at the VIII Congress of YAP on October 2nd, he set in motion the conditional “political traffic light” that regulates political relations and processes, and also defined the “red lines” for our state for all parties interested in maintaining cooperation and partnership relations with Azerbaijan. Therefore, when interpreting the ideas voiced by the head of state at the Congress, it is absolutely unacceptable to limit ourselves to the phrase beloved by my esteemed colleagues, political scientists and journalists: “The President voiced important messages.”
Yes, the President, with his speech, defined the strategic tasks of various sectors. Those who evade the implementation of these tasks, create artificial obstacles, and cannot adapt to the changing situation are the “weak links” of the system. A very important issue is that the essence and content of the defined tasks require the demonstration of excellent teamwork from the management system. We can assume that this very factor (teamwork) reflects the philosophical spirit of the systemic reforms implemented on the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev. Because in systems that prioritize teamwork, special attention is paid not to the division of labor, but to instilling professionalism and a sense of responsibility. Of course, in such systems, relationships must be regulated by different algorithms. We believe that with this, the President has initiated the transition to the next stage of the changes occurring through evolution in our country.
In light of the above, without tiring the reader with various possibilities and assumptions, let us note some of the strategic indicators of the tasks defined by the President in his speech.
1. “Many well-known experts and analysts already include Azerbaijan among the medium-sized powers.” It should not be forgotten that the “medium-sized power” status is not just an international “nomination”; it is primarily a definition of concrete political content and potential. To legitimize this status in the international relations system, it is not enough to simply have the appropriate potential and achieve concrete results. There must necessarily be a conceptual model for this status. The task of preparing a conceptual model is not the job of the head of state. Therefore, the state’s order in this regard is already a fact.
2. “The spaces around us are inflamed, boiling. Wars are not ending; on the contrary, new wars and conflict zones are emerging – both in the North, and in the South, and in the Middle East. That is, wars and clashes are continuing around us on the perimeter, and there is no international mechanism to stop these wars, and likely never will be. Because international law has completely collapsed. The number of those who care about it is sharply decreasing. There is no trust.” The strategic indicator for the implementation of this task is the degree of societal mobility. Yes, the geopolitical situation and the complex trends occurring in the world dictate that societal mobility must be constantly ensured in order to mobilize all potentials and be ready for any trials. Ensuring public mobility can only be the result of teamwork. We know very well the importance of public mobility in the development of the state and society from the history of China, Germany, and several other countries.
3. “Therefore, the time has come to properly organize ideological work, abandon templates, and abandon events that are merely formal in nature. That is, new, modern ideological work must be carried out.” The strategic indicators for the effective implementation of such a complex task are the presence of a new approach, a new way of thinking, new work methods, and new professional qualities in the system’s operation. Of course, with political will, the effective and agile renewal of the system is also the responsibility of teamwork. It should not be forgotten that an ideology that preserves tradition and monolithic unity also strengthens the state’s immunity and ensures the system’s smooth adaptation to changing realities.
4. “We are building, and must continue to build, our foreign policy in such a way that no one interferes in our affairs.” For some reason, this particular statement by the head of state has attracted the most attention from provocateurs. Malicious manipulations circulating in the internet space are mainly centered around this statement. For those who create a storm in a teacup, we must fundamentally emphasize that the President’s words do not define the enemy; rather, they define the conditions of friendship for those who wish to be friends with Azerbaijan. There is no need for fortune-telling to determine who the head of state specifically had in mind with these words. With this statement, the President defines the fundamental conditions for gaining our state’s trust and having healthy relations with Azerbaijan.
A victorious country does not need to show off its muscles. The victorious side is capable of setting the rules and conditions of relations itself. Therefore, those who wish to create international scandal by biasedly naming any state when interpreting the President’s statements are those who desire to create international scandal. Of course, it is impossible to create deep discord between two brotherly countries. The real reasons for such attempts are hidden in deeper layers. We can say that the target of the provocations in their current form is neither Azerbaijan nor Turkey. The real target is the possibility of realizing the idea of Greater Turan, which could lead to a change in the global political map.
Of course, there are forces that cannot stomach Azerbaijan’s ability to set the rules and conditions of its relations with any country after its victory. By the way, this very criterion can serve as a factor determining our state’s “medium-sized power” status. Undoubtedly, there are several reasons for the emotional zeal of the provocateurs. What is certain is that their virtual voices are coming out because their “tails” are caught between the doors of the YAP Congress. The incompetent forces inciting Azerbaijan to act as a party in various conflicts cannot have good intentions.
In this regard, it is gratifying that the political parties operating in Azerbaijan not only did not participate in these manipulations but, on the contrary, took an active stance in criticizing them. We also know from the press that some political parties have sent congratulatory letters to President Ilham Aliyev regarding the holding of the Congress and his re-election as party chairman. Such behavior by political parties indicates the existence of a political dialogue environment in our country and the formation of a civil political culture that creates the basis for healthy competition. The non-participation of parties in provocations creates hopeful expectations for the healthy future of the country’s political environment. This is also an important political indicator, not less significant than others.
*Politologist Asif Adil*