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BAKU: US Steps Up Calls To End Garabagh Conflict After Russian Incur

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  • BAKU: US Steps Up Calls To End Garabagh Conflict After Russian Incur

    US STEPS UP CALLS TO END GARABAGH CONFLICT AFTER RUSSIAN INCURSION

    AzerNews Weekly
    Sept 10 2008
    Azerbaijan

    Following Russia's military aggression against Georgia early in
    August, US officials ratcheted up rhetoric on the need to settle the
    Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. The statements by the US seek to counter
    Moscow's attempts to secure its clout over the volatile Caucasus
    region that the West deems strategically important.

    The United States has, at last, realized that the "frozen" state of
    the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict and other regional disputes
    plays into the hands of Russia, which, among other interested parties,
    wields the most leverage to manipulate the situation. Washington's
    statements come just weeks after a brief Russian-Georgian war last
    month which heightened tension in the region and put Moscow on a
    collision course with the West.

    In an unseen development, the U.S. has begun to push for a solution
    to the long-standing Garabagh dispute. "America strongly supports
    the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan," US Vice
    President Dick Cheney said during a meeting with President Ilham
    Aliyev last Wednesday.

    "We are committed to achieving a negotiated solution to the
    Garabagh conflict - a solution that starts with the principle of
    territorial integrity, and takes into account other international
    principles. Achieving a solution is more important now than ever
    before; that outcome will enhance peace and stability in the region,
    and Azerbaijan's security, as well," said Cheney, who was in Baku as
    part of his first visit to the South Caucasus.

    The Azerbaijani leader said issues regarding resolution of the
    Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict are very important for his country, and
    the United States, as one of the co-chairs of the mediating OSCE Minsk
    Group, plays a key role in helping both sides find a solution. "But,
    of course, solution must be based on international law, as every other
    conflict, with respect to the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan
    and to the territorial integrity of all the countries in the region
    and in the world."

    President Aliyev said Baku was attaching great importance to Cheney's
    visit, calling it a good opportunity to exchange views on bilateral
    relations and a wide range of issues. Successful development of
    US-Azeri relations continues in a variety of areas, he said.

    "Our relations really have a long history, and they started, mainly,
    with energy issues, and those were projects which were implemented
    in our region, initiated by Azerbaijan with strong support from the
    United States."

    Aliyev said US-Azeri relations cover a very broad range of cooperation,
    including successfully developing political relations, economic ties,
    relations in issues of security, defense, and ongoing collaboration
    in peacekeeping operations throughout the world.

    Cheney thanked Azerbaijan for its "brave contributions" in the fight
    against global terrorism.

    "Our forces have worked together in Afghanistan and Iraq. We
    cooperated to foil plots by violent extremists. Our countries are
    united in recognizing the threat posed to Azerbaijan and the world by
    the proliferation of nuclear weapons to dangerous regimes. America
    deeply appreciates Azerbaijan's contributions to the cause of peace
    and security, both in this volatile region and internationally. And
    we support the people of Azerbaijan in their efforts, often in the
    face of great challenges, to strengthen democracy, the rule of law,
    and respect for human rights, and to build a prosperous, modern,
    independent country that can serve as a pillar of moderation and
    stability in this critical part of the world."

    At a news conference following the talks, the US vice-president
    praised the outcome of his visit and meetings in Baku. He said the
    U.S. and Azerbaijan have many interests in common as both countries
    seek greater stability, security and cooperation in this vital region.

    Cheney said Washington appreciates Azerbaijan's commitment to working
    with Western countries on energy issues, emphasizing that the country
    remains pivotal to ensuring diverse and reliable energy export routes.

    "The United States strongly believes that, together with the nations
    of Europe, including Turkey, we must work with Azerbaijan and other
    countries in the Caucasus and Central Asia on additional routes for
    energy exports that ensure the free flow of resources. Energy security
    is essential to us all, and the matter is becoming increasingly
    urgent."

    President Aliyev said Azerbaijan and the U.S. were working to boost
    their energy partnership.

    "It's a real success story. And we are working, now, on further
    development of an energy partnership and the diversification of
    energy supplies, which is important not only for consumers but also
    for producers like Azerbaijan."

    Vice-President Cheney and President Aliyev have a long-standing
    relationship dating back to the times Cheney worked for the
    multinational company, Halliburton, while Aliyev acted as
    vice-president of Azerbaijan's state oil company, SOCAR.

    Upon arrival in Baku, Cheney immediately met, among others, with
    the heads of the local divisions of BP and Chevron to discuss the
    situation in the Caspian region's energy market after Russia's
    latest incursion. The reasons for Washington's concern are obvious:
    Georgia is a vital transit corridor for the BTC export pipeline,
    which pumps Azerbaijan's oil to the Turkish Mediterranean port of
    Ceyhan, bypassing Russia.

    Preventing Russia's control over supplies of energy resources from the
    resource-rich region to Western markets is one of the key objectives
    pursued in US foreign policy.

    Moscow is no less eager to gain clout over supply routes, and the fact
    that it currently controls most of the energy supplies to western
    Europe gives it strong leverage for pressure on many European Union
    states.

    Russia and the West have so far used, exclusively, economic and
    political tools in their power struggle and, at times, pressure
    regional countries. However, the latest developments in Georgia have
    shown that Moscow is now trying to change the rules of the game and
    is ready to use force to secure its dominance in the region.

    At the same time Vice-President Cheney was in Baku, Russian
    President Dmitry Medvedev made a phone call to President Aliyev. The
    two leaders said they sought successful development of bilateral
    relations on various levels, the Azerbaijani president's press-service
    said. Discussions covered international issues, the situation in the
    region, the Garabagh conflict, and other concerns. The heads of state
    also discussed the possibility of soon holding a one-on-one meeting.

    This was the Azerbaijani leader's first exchange with a Russian
    official since Moscow's incursion into Georgia.

    Analysts say that, although Cheney's visit to Baku is now over,
    issues regarding the visit, in particular, Medvedev's phone call to
    his Azerbaijani counterpart on the day President Aliyev was hosting
    Cheney, will remain in the spotlight. Further, they note that there
    is substantial difference between such a call taking place before or
    after the Aliyev-Cheney meeting.

    Azerbaijani official sources, including the presidential press-service,
    have not provided details of the phone call. The President's Office
    spokesman, Azer Gasymov, said, "We have provided information. Whatever
    the sequence of the news was, that was the sequence of developments."

    Political commentator Rauf Mirgadirov is confident that the Russian
    leader phoned President Aliyev after the latter's meeting with
    Cheney. He believes that, in doing so, Moscow was trying to clarify
    Aliyev's "political mood."

    "A day earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, when asked
    about Cheney's visit to Azerbaijan, said he was not following it. But
    Medvedev's phone call proved that Russia had no patience to wait even
    one day, so, Medvedev called Aliyev as early as several hours after
    the meeting [with Cheney]."

    Mirgadirov said that Russia, at all times, is wary of Azerbaijan's
    leaning toward the West.

    "The West sees Azerbaijan both as a source of energy and as a transit
    state. In this sense, Russia has major problems with Azerbaijan,
    since energy resources represent tools of blackmail for Russia,"
    added Mirgadirov.

    Azerbaijani former state adviser, analyst Vafa Guluzada, said Cheney's
    visit sought to give support to Azerbaijan's security, as the country
    has come under a threat after the war in Georgia. Azerbaijan, which
    has an ongoing conflict with Armenia, is facing ample risks and sought
    American support during Cheney's visit, Guluzada said.

    "Azerbaijan has, so far, been pursuing a balanced policy with the
    U.S. and Russia. Today, Baku should clearly state its position, i.e.,
    specify in which direction it is leaning. If it leans toward the West,
    it should seek firm Western protection.

    "In my opinion, Azerbaijan is Western-leaning and President Aliyev
    sought protection of the country's security from Dick Cheney,"
    Guluzada said.

    The analyst said Aliyev's talks with the US vice president were
    likely to focus on issues regarding, not only the security of oil
    and gas pipelines, but also ways of protecting Azerbaijan against
    a potential Russian attack, as Moscow is currently trying to return
    all independent former Soviet republics to its sphere of influence.
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