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WHAT THE RUSSIAN PAPERS SAY WASHINGTON ADVOCATES AZERBAIJAN'S ACCESSION TO NATO
RIA Novosti
June 25 2008
Russia
from Nezavisimaya Gazeta
During U.S.-Azerbaijani security consultations, to be held in Baku in
July, the sides may consider the possibility of Azerbaijan's accession
to NATO, Anne Derse, U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan, said on Tuesday.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev plans to visit Baku on July 3.
Azerbaijan is the third country in the GUAM block comprising Georgia,
Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova, which the West says should be
admitted to NATO. As for Moldova, its non-bloc stance may change
after the presidential elections this fall.
The Baku authorities claim to be surprised by Derse's words.
Kyamil Khasiyev, Azerbaijan's representative at the bloc, said:
"Azerbaijan is not in a hurry to join NATO, although our cooperation
with it is proceeding quite well."
He also denied the possibility of holding a referendum on NATO
accession, as Georgia did.
Political analyst Rasim Musabekov said: "The Azerbaijani authorities
have never voiced a desire to join NATO." He thinks this would have
more serious consequences for the country than in the case of Georgia.
"Only Russia is against Georgia joining the bloc, but in our case we
will also have to deal with the opposition of Iran. And don't forget
about the frozen war with Armenia," Musabekov said, adding that the
benefits of joining NATO were questionable. "The West wants this,
but what would Baku gain?"
Alexei Malashenko, an expert at the Carnegie Moscow Center,
said: "There is nothing surprising in the processes underway in
Azerbaijan. They are logical, and I don't think Moscow views them
as sensational. If Azerbaijan joins NATO, this will add a highly
interesting factor to the Karabakh conflict."
David Babayan, a political analyst from the disputed Nagorno Karabakh
republic, said: "The territory of Azerbaijan is one of the most
desirable parts of the Europe-South Caucasus-Central Asia structure,
with a potential link to China and India. In this sense, the West
will, predictably, do its best to encourage NATO cooperation with
Azerbaijan."
Babakyan said Azerbaijan's possible accession to NATO would influence
the situation in Nagorno Karabakh, because the West needs stability
in the South Caucasus and therefore settlement of the Karabakh problem
to carry out its challenging geopolitical project.
RIA Novosti
June 25 2008
Russia
from Nezavisimaya Gazeta
During U.S.-Azerbaijani security consultations, to be held in Baku in
July, the sides may consider the possibility of Azerbaijan's accession
to NATO, Anne Derse, U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan, said on Tuesday.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev plans to visit Baku on July 3.
Azerbaijan is the third country in the GUAM block comprising Georgia,
Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova, which the West says should be
admitted to NATO. As for Moldova, its non-bloc stance may change
after the presidential elections this fall.
The Baku authorities claim to be surprised by Derse's words.
Kyamil Khasiyev, Azerbaijan's representative at the bloc, said:
"Azerbaijan is not in a hurry to join NATO, although our cooperation
with it is proceeding quite well."
He also denied the possibility of holding a referendum on NATO
accession, as Georgia did.
Political analyst Rasim Musabekov said: "The Azerbaijani authorities
have never voiced a desire to join NATO." He thinks this would have
more serious consequences for the country than in the case of Georgia.
"Only Russia is against Georgia joining the bloc, but in our case we
will also have to deal with the opposition of Iran. And don't forget
about the frozen war with Armenia," Musabekov said, adding that the
benefits of joining NATO were questionable. "The West wants this,
but what would Baku gain?"
Alexei Malashenko, an expert at the Carnegie Moscow Center,
said: "There is nothing surprising in the processes underway in
Azerbaijan. They are logical, and I don't think Moscow views them
as sensational. If Azerbaijan joins NATO, this will add a highly
interesting factor to the Karabakh conflict."
David Babayan, a political analyst from the disputed Nagorno Karabakh
republic, said: "The territory of Azerbaijan is one of the most
desirable parts of the Europe-South Caucasus-Central Asia structure,
with a potential link to China and India. In this sense, the West
will, predictably, do its best to encourage NATO cooperation with
Azerbaijan."
Babakyan said Azerbaijan's possible accession to NATO would influence
the situation in Nagorno Karabakh, because the West needs stability
in the South Caucasus and therefore settlement of the Karabakh problem
to carry out its challenging geopolitical project.