There are only two remotely funny things about the crisis in Ukraine. One is the paranoid, irrational Russo-phobic reaction in Azerbaijan and amongst some Azerbaijanis. There is a palpable sense of hysteria in the media and on social networks. Both government and opposition are trying to outdo each other in whos going to be toughest on Russia. Some public figures, whom I used to take seriously, even pledged to support the noble, glorious president Aliyev, in the face of a terrible foreign threat! Goes to show that being a colonial subject is a state of mind... Fear of Moscow is widespread. Yet fear leads to anger and anger leads to major political mistakes. What can threaten Azerbaijan is not Russian actions in Crimea but Azerbaijans over-emotional response to them. My previously high opinion of Azeri Foreign Ministry had taken a a tumble. Do they not understand this is nothing to do with Karabakh? That this is to do with Russian resistance to EU and NATO enlargement in Eastern Europe? That Azerbaijan must tread lightly? That there may be opportunities here as well as threats? And who was the dilettante who made the decision to vote in favour of the UN General Assembly Resolution on Ukraine? Azerbaijan should have abstained, like Kazakhstan, China, India and 50 odd other countries. Do they really think in Baku the West will reward Azerbaijan for voting yes? And that brings me to the second funny thing about Ukraine situation - the naive, infantile belief in Azerbaijan that the West will now provide diplomatic and political support, especially on the Karabakh issue. A senior editor of an opposition newspaper told me in all seriousness - Now the Americans had seen the real face of Armenia!. Ehm... Children, living in dreamland, hoping for a rainbow, from the West... The rainbows not coming. But Azerbaijan will have to pay for that UN vote and Bakus general failure to remain neutral... The price for grand imperial follies - this strategic competition between Great Powers - is usually paid by Georgias, Ukraines and Azerbaijans of this world...
Posted on: Sun, 30 Mar 2014 13:22:07 +0000
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