Tweet
news.az, Azerbaijan
March 4 2011
US has not been willing to challenge Russian dominance - expert
Fri 04 March 2011 08:56 GMT | 10:56 Local Time
News.Az interviews Dr.Stephen J.Blank, Research Professor of National
Security Affairs.
Can you tell us briefly about your speech delivered at the recent CSIS
conference in Washington on the South Caucasus and the Caspian region?
What was the main line of your speech?
My speech was critical of US policy in the Caucasus for not defending
Georgia sufficiently and for neglecting the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis
What are the main security threats in the South Caucasus to your opinion?
The continuing Russian occupation of Georgia, Russian rearmament of
these regions, Georgia's refusal to deal seriously with the problems
of Abkhaz and S. Ossetian nationalism and the danger of an unresolved
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the danger as well lies in Armenia's
obduracy, Western neglect, and the misplaced notion of some Azeri
officials that they can provoke a military conflict to get attention
for their claims and not pay a horrible cost
The role of U.S. in the South Caucasus has become more passive. Does
it mean that Obama's administration don't accept this region as a
national interest's zone?
I would not go that far but I do say that it sees the region as not
that important and its role as passive because it will not challenge
Russia too directly
Were there any changes in US foreign policy after the Russian-Georgian
war, which has clearly shown Russian plans not give up in this region
to the West and try to dominate here?
Essentially the US accepted the results of that war and seeks to
prevent further crises but has not been willing to challenge Russian
dominance
Georgia accepts an idea of NATO membership as an only way to assure
its security. Could the same be said about Azerbaijan? Or in other
words, what should Azerbaijan do to strengthen its security?
Make peace with Armenia and refrain from military adventures which it
cannot win, reform the country and continue to do so over the long
term
In its latest report the International Crisis Group considers the
threat of a new war for Karabakh realistic. Do you agree with ICG
conclusions and what should be done to prevent a new war?
Yes I agree with them about the threat. The answer lies in ceasing
provocative behavior, stronger commitment to negotiation and a
stronger international pressure on both sides to do so.
Dr.Stephen J.Blank, Research Professor of National Security Affairs at
Strategic Studies Institute of US Army War College in Pennsylvania.
Leyla Tagiyeva
News.Az
From: A. Papazian
March 4 2011
US has not been willing to challenge Russian dominance - expert
Fri 04 March 2011 08:56 GMT | 10:56 Local Time
News.Az interviews Dr.Stephen J.Blank, Research Professor of National
Security Affairs.
Can you tell us briefly about your speech delivered at the recent CSIS
conference in Washington on the South Caucasus and the Caspian region?
What was the main line of your speech?
My speech was critical of US policy in the Caucasus for not defending
Georgia sufficiently and for neglecting the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis
What are the main security threats in the South Caucasus to your opinion?
The continuing Russian occupation of Georgia, Russian rearmament of
these regions, Georgia's refusal to deal seriously with the problems
of Abkhaz and S. Ossetian nationalism and the danger of an unresolved
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the danger as well lies in Armenia's
obduracy, Western neglect, and the misplaced notion of some Azeri
officials that they can provoke a military conflict to get attention
for their claims and not pay a horrible cost
The role of U.S. in the South Caucasus has become more passive. Does
it mean that Obama's administration don't accept this region as a
national interest's zone?
I would not go that far but I do say that it sees the region as not
that important and its role as passive because it will not challenge
Russia too directly
Were there any changes in US foreign policy after the Russian-Georgian
war, which has clearly shown Russian plans not give up in this region
to the West and try to dominate here?
Essentially the US accepted the results of that war and seeks to
prevent further crises but has not been willing to challenge Russian
dominance
Georgia accepts an idea of NATO membership as an only way to assure
its security. Could the same be said about Azerbaijan? Or in other
words, what should Azerbaijan do to strengthen its security?
Make peace with Armenia and refrain from military adventures which it
cannot win, reform the country and continue to do so over the long
term
In its latest report the International Crisis Group considers the
threat of a new war for Karabakh realistic. Do you agree with ICG
conclusions and what should be done to prevent a new war?
Yes I agree with them about the threat. The answer lies in ceasing
provocative behavior, stronger commitment to negotiation and a
stronger international pressure on both sides to do so.
Dr.Stephen J.Blank, Research Professor of National Security Affairs at
Strategic Studies Institute of US Army War College in Pennsylvania.
Leyla Tagiyeva
News.Az
From: A. Papazian