WE ARE DETERMINED TO PROVIDE SECURITY
FOR OUR COUNTRY AND ITS STRATEGIC
INFRASTRUCTURE

«BRINGING BAKU-TBILISI-CEYHAN PIPELINE INTO OPERATION IS A RESULT OF GRANDIOSE OIL STRATEGY FOR TRANSPORTATION OF THE CASPIAN ENERGY RESOURCES TO WORLD MARKETS»

Caspian Energy: Could you please share your view on what has changed in the world after 9/11, 2001 and how these changes have touched the Caspian region and Azerbaijan?

Minister of National Security of the Republic of Azerbaijan Eldar Mahmudov: The events of 9/11, 2001 gave an impetus to re-estimation of the values and reconsideration of the security policy. Many things have changed in the world within the last four years - additional legislative, administrative and operative measures were taken, the partnership contacts expanded, the volume and character of the exchanged information improved. But first of all - approaches to the terrorism problems applied by political and law-enforcement circles of the leading countries of the world, which became target of terrorist actions, have changed, they became more objective. Today we observe the tendency of positive changes in the sphere of international cooperation in combating terrorism that was difficult even to imagine 5 years ago.
As is aware, the Republic of Azerbaijan before restoration of its state independence has faced the problem of terrorism practiced by Armenian terrorist organizations supported by state bodies of the Republic of Armenia contributing to separatist movement in Nagorno Karabakh. For many years Azerbaijan strives to draw attention of the world community to this problem. We have faced with paradox situation - majority countries taking an active part in combating terrorism under religious cover refrain from cooperation in counteraction to separatism and terrorism under ethnic shelter. A number of arrested and extradited terrorists of religious manifestation count the hundreds, but separatists and members of terrorist organizations under ethnic cover - only a few. However, today the understanding of necessity to abandon practice of division of terrorists and separatists into "ours and strangers" and giving them religious or ethnic colours is getting stronger.
Today, international terrorism and other types of transnational organized crime connected with it remain the most dangerous threats to national security. These threats emerge in political, economic, social, ecology and other spheres, frequently embracing territories of several countries or regions. Therefore, combating terrorism represents the priority direction in activity of special services for provision of security in the modern stage. Our country takes an active part in bilateral and multilateral mechanisms of cooperation in this field. We are recognized as reliable partner not in words, but in deeds; through our actions proving that security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of one state will become guaranteed only if the other states and first of all neighboring ones would have the same guarantees.

Caspian Energy: Whether or not, MNS of Azerbaijan overcame the so-called post-soviet development period? Which countries’ special services standards or activity are taken into consideration in formation of MNS’s policy and structure?

Eldar Mahmudov: Today Azerbaijan lives in conditions of socio-political stability that is permanent term for creation of the legal state based upon legislation meeting modern international standards. Due to efforts of National Leader Heydar Aliyev our country became the state capable to defend its national interests in both domestic and foreign political level. It is his unquestionable achievement that Ministry of National Security has turned into an effective institute guarding statehood and national interests of Azerbaijan. The strategic line of law-enforcement policy determined by Heydar Aliyev is continued by law-enforcement bodies of the Republic under leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. Therefore, last year Mr. President has approved several legislative and normative acts setting the legal framework for activity of security agencies and special services of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including laws "On National Security", "On Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence Activity", "On State Secret", Terms of Reference and Structure of the Ministry of National Security. Serious reforms undertaken, new subdivisions and lines of work were formed for effective discharge of functions entrusted with us by those laws. We managed to pass the basic stages of reformation in short time and to start planned implementation of large-scale and long-term projects for development of logistical basis of the Ministry.
Our long-term strategic task is provision of the ultimate security terms for unshakeably progressive democratic development of the Azerbaijani state and society in condition of growth of scales of modern challenges to national security in all regions of the world. The current legislation and national interests of the country is the first imperative taken into account by security bodies of Azerbaijan during development of policy in this field. The implementation of stated task takes presence of serious intellectual potential, technical equipment and harmonised actions in all directions of provision of national security. Of course, the study of advanced international practice and achievements of scientific-technologic thought has the utmost importance for that.

Caspian Energy: What is your assessment of the level of interaction between the special services in the post soviet space and how useful these contacts are?

Eldar Mahmudov: Cooperation of special services of Azerbaijan with security agencies of the foreign states, including CIS countries, is on the quite high level and encompasses interaction in different spheres of activity. Today, the Ministry of National Security maintains partnership relations with the special services from more than 40 states and relevant international structures. The cooperation and interaction with security bodies of the Russian Federation in the field of combating terrorism goes by the growing line too - legal basis of cooperation is created, the mechanisms of information and experience exchange are developed, constant working contacts are maintained. Actually the expansion of international contacts geography and scale of cooperation with partner special services is one of priorities forming the basis of MNS’s position in combating international terrorism and transnational organized crime. At the same time, we thoroughly follow the tendencies of general development of foreign policy of our country and strive to support its realization through contacts on our level.
Terrorist acts recently perpetrated in the European and Asian countries have demonstrated again that no country can defeat terrorism alone or consider itself absolutely guaranteed from that threat. The special services of Azerbaijan perfectly understand the necessity of cooperation in bilateral and multilateral format, experience and information exchange with partner states. Provision of reliable antiterrorist protection demands not only the study and analysis of the international practice, increase of professionalism of staff and improvement of modus operandi, but also acquisition of pre-emptive information about terrorist intentions, including data from foreign partners too.

Caspian Energy: It is not a secret that presidents of some countries both the CIS and far neighboring held high positions in special services of their countries and were elected in crucial moments of country’s history. Does that fact in your view testifies about decisive, if not main, influence of special services on the state management and thus on the world processes in general?

Eldar Mahmudov: First of all, it should be stressed that election of former officers or heads of security bodies to the post of President is quite rare event itself, predetermined by phenomenal intellect and charismatic personality of the given man. Probably, it is twist of fate, but former militaries are more fortunate in this matter, for example: Willis Grant, Winston Churchill, Dwight Eisenhower, Charles de Gaulle and many others. But I do not fully agree with the stated question, as it comes to the decisive influence of special services on the state management and world processes. In my opinion, the main role here belongs to national interests, especially in the sphere of economy. Establishment of the European Union, which, as it is known, started from foundation of several European industrial unions and ideology of common market serves the clear example of economic influence on the international processes in the modern history. At the same time, special services more frequently take part in development of state policy and realization of national interests in different spheres, rather than the others. However, it does not testify about wakeful control or omnipresent hand of special services. As a rule, such stand of things is peculiar to totalitarian regimes, rather than to democratic, legal states, where our country belongs too.
A number of tasks standing ahead of security bodies’ staff of Azerbaijan has permanent character and will be carried out regardless the country’s development stage. First of all, these are tasks for preservation of foundations of the Azerbaijani statehood, its sovereignty and independence, protection of territorial integrity, socio-political stability and security of state, society and individual, creation of secure conditions for country’s progress. The second category of tasks is more dynamic by nature and defined by political, economic and social changes, causing emergence of new types of challenges and direct threats to security. For example, the development of our country is connected with its transformation into a key state in a transit region with ever-growing transport line networks and increasing number of premises of industrial and telecommunications infrastructure integrated into international systems.
Hence, economic progress of the country provoked emergence of not only significant number of premises of strategic importance requiring reliable defense, but modern challenges to security as well, counteraction to which constitutes content of new directions in our activity.

Caspian Energy: Mr. Minister how do you estimate the role of your Ministry in realization of oil and gas strategy of Azerbaijan and its economic growth? Could you please to tell us about activity for preventing possible terrorist acts against strategic premises, because stated problem is characteristic for the leading countries of the world?

Eldar Mahmudov: Bringing Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline into operation is a result of grandiose oil strategy for transportation of the Caspian energy resources to world markets, which was suggested and started by National Leader of Azeri people Heydar Aliyev. Today, we are witnessing realization of those plans and sincerely enjoying it. However, there are serious strange forces not sharing our optimism. The fact of existence of terrorist attacks and sabotage threats against that international energy project was recognized by the Azerbaijani side and our project partners as well. The relevant state bodies of the Republic of Azerbaijan together with foreign partners take all necessary actions to secure oil and gas infrastructure.
I should emphasize that the large-scale regional projects practically always and everywhere are subject to certain negative influence made by the interested political forces or transnational criminal groups. This problem is characteristic not only to leading, but also to all states of the world. And it is quite natural that such large-scale international projects like construction of export oil pipelines, creation of TRACECA transport corridor and some others are in the focus of malevolent people and business competitors. I think there is nothing sensational or terrible in recognition of the fact of existence of the sabotage threats against strategic infrastructure, because recognition of problem is a starting point for quest for it resolution. The level of threats to newly created infrastructure is usually studied long before beginning of projects’ practical implementation stage, which is followed by acceptance of governmental programs on provision of security. Foreign experts, including famous international companies with decade long experience gained in different regions of the world and taken into consideration during development of projects, are frequently involved in that work.
The relevant interagency commission responsible for security of export pipelines is working, and necessary normative documents and practical actions are developed and implemented in Azerbaijan at present. The role of the Ministry of National Security in this process is determined by appropriate documents and generally covers such key elements of activity like information and operative support for security of oil and gas infrastructure. Our main task is provision of interested structures with pre-emptive information about possible threats to premises of oil & gas sector and direct participation in prevention of such challenges. Therefore, we jointly with other state bodies and security services of companies take part in development of plans and actions for safety of strategic premises.

Caspian Energy: In one of his recent interviews the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said that "keeping a balance is a major issue in our region". What do you think, how should special services of state correspond to this principle?

Eldar Mahmudov: Azerbaijan is located in geopolitically difficult region where interests of northern, southern, eastern and western countries come across. Since restoration of its state independence our country is striving to conduct balanced policy the best way corresponding to its national interests. As it has already been said, the objective of special services activity is provision of secure conditions for progressive and dynamic development of country and support for political course of the government as well. Therefore, political principles declared by the state government and reflected in national legislation are taken into consideration in discharge of our functions.

Caspian Energy: In time of independence Azerbaijan came over the obstacles caused by some countries, however, practically all transport projects are developed successfully. What role does MNS play for prevention of reoccurrence of similar problems in Azerbaijan in future?

Eldar Mahmudov: The main problem in this sphere is not counteraction to different countries, but attempts of transnational organized crime to use the created transport corridors for purposes of illegal migration, trafficking of human beings, drugs and arms smuggling, and so on. Given the geopolitical location of our country the special services of Azerbaijan consider combating illegal migration and trafficking as a component of fight against international terrorism and transnational organized crime. Because, today Azerbaijan is not only transit territory, but also the point of destination for illegal migrants flow, including activists of different terrorist and extremist organizations. The trafficking of human beings problem demands careful attention, victims thereof being dependent subjects can be used as instruments for crimes in the sphere of drugs and arms smuggling. The government of Azerbaijan has developed special package of actions for control over migration processes in the country and Ministry of National Security takes an active part in its realization. In this direction we have certain achievements - hundreds of people connected with terrorist organizations were denied entry to country, dozens of illegal migration channels were found out and blocked, etc.
At strategic level of protection of life-maintenance system the relevant state bodies determine the most vulnerable premises of industrial, communications and transport infrastructure, make the list of objects of special importance, where security regime preventing and significantly reducing opportunities for terror and sabotage actions is created. Given the existence of close relations between terrorist organizations, transnational organized crime, separatist regimes and religious-extremist groups, as well as multifaceted character of terrorist threats that task is commissioned from all operative apparatus, analytical and technical divisions of MNS. I should say that combating terrorism and transnational organized crime in Azerbaijan is complicated by continuing conflict in Nagorno Karabakh and occupation of 20% of our territory and existence of 132 km section of Azerbaijan-Iran state border beyond our country’s control. That’s why we consider the matters connected with this conflict as a part of work for provision of security and prevention of terrorist threats.

Caspian Energy: Recently, Armenians of Akhalkalaki have claimed their right to autonomy in Georgia. Can that fact be a direct threat to Azerbaijan’s pipelines and what consequences this last escapade of the Armenian lobby might have at regional level?

Eldar Mahmudov: Undoubtedly the continued occupation of the Azerbaijani lands part of which is in proximity to pipelines routes, existence of unrecognized regimes in Nagorno Karabakh, Abkhazia and Southern Osetia poses serious threat to security of international energy projects. Azerbaijan has unequivocal position in restoration of territorial integrity of Georgia and many times expressed its support. Azerbaijan is an opponent of idea of creation separatist regimes and unrecognized autonomy formations in Caucasus and all over the world.
International-law documents clearly define the superiority of territorial integrity and inviolability of borders principles over the right of nations to self-determination. At the same time, by virtue of the international law the Armenian population residing in Nagorno Karabakh, Akhalkalaki or elsewhere cannot be recognized as "people" or "nation", enjoying the right for self-determination. These postulates are well known both to Armenian and foreign lawyers. On the background of strengthening integration processes on the regional and continental levels any aspirations to separation or isolation are absurd, they lead to regress of the country and collapse of its national economy. Certainly, elite of the Armenian society cannot deny understanding it. Probably, it just lacks courage to declare it honestly to the nation and to reorient it to more constructive goals.
Nevertheless, despite any difficulties we are determined to provide security for our country and its strategic infrastructure.

Thanks for your interview.