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ANKARA: U.S. ignores South Caucasus at its own peril - The Heritage

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  • ANKARA: U.S. ignores South Caucasus at its own peril - The Heritage

    Cihan News Agency (CNA)
    November 27, 2014 Thursday


    U.S. ignores South Caucasus at its own peril - The Heritage Foundation



    WASHINGTON (CÄ°HAN)- While the U.S. and NATO are focused on Russian
    activity in Central and Eastern Europe, there are some developments in
    the South Caucasus that merit closer attention, according to Luke
    Coffey's report prepared for The Heritage Foundation, which is a
    strategic research institute of the United States.

    Increasing tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the
    Armenian-occupied Azerbaijani territory of Nagorno`Karabakh is among
    them, the author wrote.
    `Although the South Caucasus is geographically distant from the U.S.,
    events there can have serious ramifications for the transatlantic
    community,' the report says. `Events in the South Caucasus can impact
    regional security, and by extension, America and Europe's security.
    Therefore, it is in America's national interests to keep a close eye
    on developments in the region.'

    The region, especially Georgia and Azerbaijan, has played a major role
    in NATO's Northern Distribution Network for resupplying troops in
    Afghanistan. Important pipelines transit the region carrying oil and
    gas to European markets, a report says.

    `As Europeans try to become less dependent on Russian energy sources
    these pipelines will become increasingly important,' the author wrote.

    The current Nagorno`Karabakh conflict started in 1988 when Armenia
    made territorial claims to Azerbaijan's Nagorno`Karabakh autonomous
    oblast.

    Even though there have been multiple calls from the international
    community for them to withdraw their forces, Armenia and
    Armenia-backed militias continue to occupy 20 percent of what is
    internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan's territory. A
    cease-fire agreement was signed in 1994 but the conflict remains
    unresolved.

    In the past several weeks, fighting in the region has been increasing.

    `If these cease-fire violations turn into a full- blown war, the
    spillover effect could disrupt oil and gas pipelines'which at their
    closest point are only eight miles from the cease-fire line'and bring
    instability to neighboring Georgia,' he wrote.

    `Instability in the Nagorno`Karabakh region benefits Moscow because it
    allows the Russian regime to leverage its influence'especially in
    Armenia,' the report says.

    Due to the geostrategic importance of the South Caucasus, and Russia's
    new role in the region, the U.S. cannot afford to ignore the latest
    political and security developments there.

    Peace talks over Nagorno-Karabakh have been stalled for years and
    there is very little the U.S. can do to bring the parties back to the
    negotiating table. However, remaining silent on the matter offers
    implicit approval of the status quo, the author wrote. `The U.S.
    should continue to call for a peaceful solution to the conflict that
    includes the withdrawal of Armenian forces from all Azerbaijani
    territories,' the report says.

    While the South Caucasus might seem distant to many American
    policymakers, any spillover from ongoing and potential conflicts in
    the region can affect the United States and its security interests.

    The U.S. ignores the South Caucasus at its own peril.

    The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
    when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

    As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied
    20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and
    seven surrounding districts.

    The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs
    of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently
    holding peace negotiations.

    Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions
    on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

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