Azerbaijan has historically been the center of many cultures, peoples and religions. For this reason, multiculturalism is preserved in the country. In addition, the presence of more than 30 different nationalities in the country has been an important element for Azerbaijan’s foreign policy.

21 years ago, Heydar Aliyev, the third president of Azerbaijan, popularly known as the Great Leader, passed away in Ohio. During his 10-year presidency, Azerbaijan witnessed numerous developments and achieved consistent success in foreign policy. Until Heydar Aliyev, the unpreparedness and unformed state structure during the Ayaz Mütellibov period and the unilateral, Türkiye-oriented, aggressive foreign policy against Iran and Russia during the Elchibey period wore the country down politically and economically. The struggle for power within the country, the separation of powers and the blow brought by the Karabakh war turned the eyes of the people towards Heydar Aliyev in Nakhchivan. With his experience as a high-ranking Azerbaijani official during the Soviet era, Heydar Aliyev was invited to Baku and became the Speaker of the Parliament on June 15, 1993, interim president from June 24, and officially elected president on October 10 of the same year.[1]

From the day he took office, the main party (New Azerbaijan Party) program was to ensure Azerbaijan’s security in the region and to gain international recognition and attention. Normalizing relations with Iran and Russia, Aliyev slowly began to resolve the problems of the past. Initially, the pro-Russian policy aimed at warding off the Russian threat gradually gave way to a policy of balance. In this period, even though he cooled his relations with Türkiye in order to reduce the threat and kept Turkish investors in the country under pressure, over time, Türkiye was given a high share in many agreements and oil tenders. With his experience and popularity from the Soviet era, Heydar Aliyev established close contacts with many statesmen and made Azerbaijan a strategically important country in the region.[2]

Azerbaijan should have equal legal relations with Türkiye, Iran, neighboring Georgia, Russia, the USA, European countries, Arab countries, Muslim countries, Central Asian countries and Kazakhstan.

Azerbaijan has historically been the center of many cultures, peoples and religions. For this reason, multiculturalism is preserved in the country. In addition, the presence of more than 30 different nationalities in the country has been an important element for Azerbaijan’s foreign policy. Relations have been established with Türkiye, Iran, Israel and Central Asian countries on the basis of ethnic, religious and cultural values. In the relations developed with Türkiye, the slogan “Two states, one nation” was adopted for the first time, emphasizing the common ties of both states and peoples. Relations with Iran, which were targeted during the Elchibey period in line with the goal of “All Azerbaijan”, have improved again thanks to a rational and balanced policy. The great employment and tolerance of citizens of Jewish origin in the country has been instrumental in the establishment of relations with Israel. Relations with the Central Asian states were established in a political and cultural format based on Turkic culture.[3]

Under Elchibey, the strict pro-Western, anti-Iranian and anti-Russian policy was revised and Azerbaijan’s political prestige in the region was secured. In the second stage of the policy of balance, Heydar Aliyev set a line in the relations with the countries, which was aimed at solving global problems by recognizing the principles of respect for the independence of states, methods and strategies of political development, peaceful, common interest-based action as the main principle. The reason for the implementation of the balancing policy in this direction was to remove Azerbaijan from the battlefield and turn it into a favorable business area for investors. It was not until Heydar Aliyev that the country came back from the brink of the Karabakh war and a possible political crisis with Iran and Russia. (1)

With the coming to power of Heydar Aliyev in Azerbaijan, the economic decision-making process and its implementation were stabilized, which helped the economy to function efficiently. On the other hand, within the framework of cooperation with the IMF and the World Bank, restructuring and privatization programs began to carry out official programs. Many medium and long-term government programs have been implemented in the country. In short, in an environment where political stability was achieved and maintained, economic stability was ensured in the country with the steps taken regarding the production and export of energy resources in the Caspian, legal and institutional arrangements in the economy, macroeconomic, regional and sectoral programs prepared and implemented, a favorable investment environment was created and a continuous development process was achieved. Since 1994, the Azerbaijani economy has been restructured in all sectors in the direction of transition to a free market economy based on the principles of full competition. However, the rulers, who knew that the energy sector alone could not control the country’s economy, planned to invest in other fields and for this purpose, both legal and political arrangements were made to bring foreign capital to the country. In the same way, the state provided strong guarantees to foreign capital owners who would invest in this field. Azeri businessmen investing abroad were also provided with state protection. This is a clear indication of the state’s intention to use the economic element in foreign policy in a very efficient way.[4]

During the Elchibey period, the strict pro-Western, pro-Iranian and pro-Russian policy was revised and Azerbaijan’s political prestige in the region was secured. In the second stage of the policy of balance, Heydar Aliyev set the principle of respect for the independence of states, methods and strategies of political development, peaceful, based on common interests, recognizing the principles of peoples and solving global problems as the main principle in relations with countries. The reason for the implementation of the balancing policy in this direction was to remove Azerbaijan from the battlefield and turn it into a favorable business area for investors. Until Heydar Aliyev, the country was on the brink of the Karabakh war, as well as a possible political crisis with Iran and Russia.

Azerbaijani oil was identified as the main element in foreign policy. In September 1994, the “Contract of the Century” worth 7.4 billion dollars was signed at the Gulistan Palace in Baku on the joint processing and extraction of oil from the “Azeri”, “Chirag” and “Guneshli” oil deposits in the Azerbaijani part of the Caspian Sea. Eight countries (Azerbaijan, USA, Great Britain, Russia, Russia, Türkiye, Norway, Norway, Japan and Saudi Arabia) and 13 oil companies (Amoco, BP, McDermptt, UNOCAL, SOCAR, Lukoil, Statoil, Exxon, Turkish Petroleum, Pennzoil, ITOCHU, Ramco, Delta) participated in the Contract of the Century. In the investment made on the basis of the agreement, 17.02% of BP, 2.08% of Ramco, 17.01% of Amoco, 11.2% of UNOCAL, 2.45% of McDermott, 10% of Lukoil, 8.56% of Statoil, 1.75% of Turkish Petroleum and 20% of SOCAR (Azerbaijan State Oil Company). Thus, Azerbaijan’s new oil strategy and doctrine began to be successfully implemented.[5]

The policy of balance established by Heydar Aliyev in Azerbaijan is being successfully continued today by his son Ilham Aliyev. During the Heydar Aliyev era, Azerbaijan has achieved economic stability by attracting foreign investors in many fields, especially in the energy sector, and has succeeded in promoting Azerbaijan as a peaceful country that respects international law in the international arena. I believe that the balance policy established will be successfully continued in the future after Ilham Aliyev.

Tuncay Guliyev

Koç University – Undergraduate student