Updated after ninth paragraph
Azerbaijan moves towards modernization in economic and political spheres: head of Center for Strategic Studies
Azerbaijan, Baku, December 29 / Trend , U.Sadikhova /
2009 was successful for the Azerbaijani diplomacy, since the foreign policy of Azerbaijan is not only multilateral, but also pragmatic, the head of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Azerbaijan Elkhan Nuriyev briefed the media on Dec. 29.
Summarizing the work of the Center, of which main priority is to define the strategic directions of domestic and foreign policy of Azerbaijan, Nuriyev said that the tendency of multi-vector diplomacy allows the State to take successful steps in the foreign policy of the country.
He said that today Azerbaijan has no problems with the major powers and neighboring countries, except Armenia.
"The geopolitical and strategic interests of powers coincide in Azerbaijan, unlike in Georgia and Armenia. Because Azerbaijan has always tried to adhere to multidirectional, balanced and pragmatic policy," Nuriyev said, adding that such diplomacy allows Azerbaijan to successfully develop bilateral relations with other countries.
"The policy of our President is successful because it focuses on the future, when there is a purpose to go forward, then appropriate steps are taken. If they are strategically thought out, they will be successful," said Nuriyev.
The priority of the Center for Strategic Studies is to study and analyze the domestic and foreign policy, said Nuriyev.
Interesting processes occur in Azerbaijan, and if to analyze them internally, it becomes clear that Azerbaijan is a stable, dynamically developing state, which is moving from stability to modernization, said Nuriyev.
"Azerbaijan is a modernizing state and we develop democratic elements through modernization, Nuriyev said. The leadership of the country is seriously thinking about where and how Azerbaijan goes. The answer is simple: Azerbaijan is moving towards modernization in the economic and political spheres."
Modernization of the political, economic and cultural life of the country is the demand of time, and Azerbaijan gets modernized independently without the influence of external forces, said Nuriyev.
However, according to Nuriyev, in the process of modernization, Azerbaijan is not moving towards Westernization, but maintains its national traditions and culture. "We do not get westernized, but study the experience of Western democracy and try to learn from only positive moments. We analyze the processes inside and outside Azerbaijan and the opportunities that we can use, as well as the challenges that we can face," said Nuriyev.
Azerbaijan's politics are strategic, it adheres to the principle of a healthy pragmatism, which is visible in the foreign policy of the country. Regarding Azerbaijan's integration into NATO, the Euro-Atlantic space, Nuriyev said that this process takes place gradually and without haste.