Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

U.S. eyes Caucasus as next stage of NATO enlargement

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • U.S. eyes Caucasus as next stage of NATO enlargement

    PanARMENIAN.Net

    U.S. eyes Caucasus as next stage of NATO enlargement
    16.02.2007 16:27 GMT+04:00

    /PanARMENIAN.Net/ `The U.S. and EU view the South
    Caucasus not only as an energy supplier but also as a
    transit region allowing to transport hydrocarbon from
    Central Asia to world markets bypassing Russia and
    Iran,' political observer of the strategic culture
    foundation Alexander Krylov says. `Successful
    functioning of new energy corridors built by the
    United States and EU is impossible without settlement
    of some pressing problems. First of all it's
    maintenance of stability and counteraction to attempts
    of resumption of large-scale hostilities in conflict
    zones. Besides, the West needs to prevent
    destabilization in transit states - Azerbaijan and
    Georgia.

    When the military stage was over in early 1990-ies,
    the conflicts entered the `frozen' stage that
    initiated negotiation processes under the aegis of the
    UN and other international organizations. The talks
    did not reconcile the sides. Moreover, the problem of
    the not recognized states tends to aggravate.
    Reduction of Russian military presence and active
    penetration of the U.S., EU and NATO in the region may
    change the balance of forces.

    Washington is not going to abandon Caucasus
    rearrangement plans. Integration of three South
    Caucasian states and pushing Russia out of the region
    is a priority. At that accession of the republics to
    the EU is not supposed even theoretically, since it's
    NATO that should become the main tool of the Euro
    Atlantic integration. Washington eyes the Caucasus as
    the next stage of NATO enlargement and simultaneous
    accession of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia is
    supposed to be the best variant.

    The current U.S. administration prescribes a bit part
    for Russia in the forthcoming rearrangement of
    Caucasus and uses local allies for the purpose by
    rendering political and financial support.

    Russia's only real strategic partner in the South
    Caucasus is Armenia that builds its foreign policy by
    the principle of balance between different military
    and political blocs whose interests immediately
    concern the Caucasus. Yerevan pursues a pro-Russian
    policy, since it's best of all meets the republic's
    interests at the current stage,' Krylov says, reports
    New Region.
Working...
X