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'INT'L COMMUNITY ON RECORD AS WANTING A SOLUTION TO KARABAKH PROBLEM'
News.az
Nov 18 2011
Azerbaijan
News.Az interviews James J. Coyle, Ph.D., Director of Global Education,
Chapman University.
Do you think that the US gave the South Caucasus region up to Russia
after the August war in Georgia? How can you explain that the US is
not as active in the region as it was to be?
Shortly after the Russians invaded Georgia, on 31 August 2008 President
Medvedyev gave a television interview in which he announced his views
on Russian foreign and security policy. In that interview, he stated
that Russia considers it a priority to protect Russians wherever they
may be, and that Russia has privileged interest in certain regions.
The Russian Duma passed the Law on Defense which gives the Russian
military the right to use military force abroad. These positions
are reiterated in the Russian Military Doctrine that was issued on
5 February 2010. Why is this important? Because Washington wants to
"reset" relations with Moscow. As a result, Washington has tacitly
conceded the South Caucasus as being an area in which Russia has
privileged interests.
The EU is very active in our region. Does this activity meets or
contradict the American interests in the South Caucasus?
The EU is a long-term ally of the United States. Most of the EU members
are also members of NATO. In general, furtherance of EU objectives is
also furtherance of US objectives. Of course, there are exceptions
to that statement and you would have to be more specific with your
question.
What do you think about Azerbaijan's policy in the South Caucasus
and the Caspian region?
Azerbaijan's policies are based on a seeking of cooperation with
all its neighbors. As an example, when it built the Baku to Ceyhan
pipeline, it made certain that "early oil" would go through the
Russian pipeline system. The South Caucasus and the Caspian are rough
neighborhoods, however, and sometimes national interest trumps the
desire for good relations. So, when Azerbaijan says it wants to build
a Trans Caspian pipeline to bring Turkmen gas into various Southern
Corridor pipeline projects, Azerbaijan says it can make a bilateral
treaty with Turkmenistan. Russia and Iran insist they have a veto
power over the project.
>From the US perspective, building the TCP is an essential step to
bring natural gas from the Caspian basin to the West and is therefore a
good thing--even if it ruffles the feathers of Azerbaijan's neighbors.
They talk a lot in the West about security guarantees for Georgia
(NATO membership promises, trainings for militaries etc), but what
about Azerbaijan? Whether the West has any capacities to protect its
ally, situated in the very difficult region, from any kind of danger
from its neighbors?
Azerbaijan has stated it does not want to be part of NATO or any
military bloc. The US has the ability to provide training and support
to allies anywhere in the world. Whether it will provide these services
is based on American national security interests.
What do you think about Karabakh problem? Why does the international
community not want to deal with it?
The international community is on record as wanting a solution to the
Karabakh problem. UN General Assembly resolution 62/243 reaffirms
"continued respect and support for the sovereignty and territorial
integrity" of Azerbaijan "within its internationally recognized
borders", and demands the "immediate, complete and unconditional
withdrawal of all Armenian forces from all the occupied territories"
of Azerbaijan.
The OSCE continues to search for a negotiated solution through the
Minsk process, cochaired by the United States, Russia and France.
From: A. Papazian
News.az
Nov 18 2011
Azerbaijan
News.Az interviews James J. Coyle, Ph.D., Director of Global Education,
Chapman University.
Do you think that the US gave the South Caucasus region up to Russia
after the August war in Georgia? How can you explain that the US is
not as active in the region as it was to be?
Shortly after the Russians invaded Georgia, on 31 August 2008 President
Medvedyev gave a television interview in which he announced his views
on Russian foreign and security policy. In that interview, he stated
that Russia considers it a priority to protect Russians wherever they
may be, and that Russia has privileged interest in certain regions.
The Russian Duma passed the Law on Defense which gives the Russian
military the right to use military force abroad. These positions
are reiterated in the Russian Military Doctrine that was issued on
5 February 2010. Why is this important? Because Washington wants to
"reset" relations with Moscow. As a result, Washington has tacitly
conceded the South Caucasus as being an area in which Russia has
privileged interests.
The EU is very active in our region. Does this activity meets or
contradict the American interests in the South Caucasus?
The EU is a long-term ally of the United States. Most of the EU members
are also members of NATO. In general, furtherance of EU objectives is
also furtherance of US objectives. Of course, there are exceptions
to that statement and you would have to be more specific with your
question.
What do you think about Azerbaijan's policy in the South Caucasus
and the Caspian region?
Azerbaijan's policies are based on a seeking of cooperation with
all its neighbors. As an example, when it built the Baku to Ceyhan
pipeline, it made certain that "early oil" would go through the
Russian pipeline system. The South Caucasus and the Caspian are rough
neighborhoods, however, and sometimes national interest trumps the
desire for good relations. So, when Azerbaijan says it wants to build
a Trans Caspian pipeline to bring Turkmen gas into various Southern
Corridor pipeline projects, Azerbaijan says it can make a bilateral
treaty with Turkmenistan. Russia and Iran insist they have a veto
power over the project.
>From the US perspective, building the TCP is an essential step to
bring natural gas from the Caspian basin to the West and is therefore a
good thing--even if it ruffles the feathers of Azerbaijan's neighbors.
They talk a lot in the West about security guarantees for Georgia
(NATO membership promises, trainings for militaries etc), but what
about Azerbaijan? Whether the West has any capacities to protect its
ally, situated in the very difficult region, from any kind of danger
from its neighbors?
Azerbaijan has stated it does not want to be part of NATO or any
military bloc. The US has the ability to provide training and support
to allies anywhere in the world. Whether it will provide these services
is based on American national security interests.
What do you think about Karabakh problem? Why does the international
community not want to deal with it?
The international community is on record as wanting a solution to the
Karabakh problem. UN General Assembly resolution 62/243 reaffirms
"continued respect and support for the sovereignty and territorial
integrity" of Azerbaijan "within its internationally recognized
borders", and demands the "immediate, complete and unconditional
withdrawal of all Armenian forces from all the occupied territories"
of Azerbaijan.
The OSCE continues to search for a negotiated solution through the
Minsk process, cochaired by the United States, Russia and France.
From: A. Papazian