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news.az, Azerbaijan
July 23 2010
Europe 'more interested' in Transdniestria than Karabakh
Fri 23 July 2010 | 14:29 GMT Text size:
Alexander Rahr News.Az interviews Alexander Rahr, program director for
Russia-Eurasia at the German Council on Foreign Relations.
The German Council on Foreign Relations has organized a major event on
EU and German contacts with the South Caucasus in July. How do you
explain Berlin's interest in the region?
Political forces inside Germany, who believe that overall foreign and
defence policy is dormant and should be woken up and consolidated, are
becoming relatively more active. Europe is emerging from the financial
crisis, so more active engagement in foreign policy is called for. The
South Caucasus region is of extreme importance for Germany and Europe
as an energy corridor. Therefore, Europe must invigorate its positions
and its influence in this region. A great many meetings have recently
been held in this regard; Germany has paid great attention to the
South Caucasus. I think the fact that the Azerbaijani, Armenian and
Georgian foreign ministers and the Armenian president recently visited
Berlin also prove that these countries realize that the key to
rapprochement with the EU is now in Germany. Therefore, they are
intensifying their policy on Europe.
There is an opinion that Germany has a different policy on Russia from
the rest of Europe, that Berlin is friendlier to Moscow because of its
gas interests which manifested itself in the mild criticism of the
Georgian-Russian war. What do you think?
I don't think so. Probably, there was something of the kind in the
time of Shroeder, Kohl or in the Soviet era, but no such special
relations can be seen now. There are economic interests which can also
be seen in Italy, Spain, France and Great Britain. By the way, Poland
also has this interest in Russia.
I think the Georgian conflict is not so decisive in this respect.
Europe has already passed its verdict based on a thorough
investigation of the events. I think there is no doubt that
Saakashvili provoked the attacks on South Ossetia through the use of
force. Now criticism of Russia is on the back-burner. The West has the
position that it is difficult to change the status quo.
Now Russia is ready to modernize and is asking the West for
assistance. Germany has money and the intention to help Russia; there
are many forms of cooperation, which is why Germany is moving in this
direction. But I think it does not forget its other partners either.
Mrs Merkel is performing a circus balancing act. I think no-one,
including Georgia, Azerbaijan or Armenia, can accuse her of supporting
any side. She is a master of balance.
Can we hope that economic interests will encourage Europe to be more
active in stabilizing the situation in the Caucasus, in particular, in
the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
German companies are very interested in investing in energy transit.
It is no secret that the Nabucco project, despite Russia's
disapproval, is gaining greater support among European countries and
companies, including major German companies. Despite all the
difficulties. Yes, I think Germany wants to raise its influence in the
region through greater economic activity.
But I have to disappoint you about the Karabakh conflict. Germans
think it is first necessary to settle the Transdniestrian problem
which is also a difficult problem but is closer to Europe than
Nagorno-Karabakh.
But the Karabakh conflict is the oldest in Eastern Europe and occurred
in a country on which Europe is pinning its hopes for energy security.
Whatever you say, interest in Moldova is much lower.
No, Moldova is a stumbling block for the whole policy on the
nonproliferation of conventional weapons in Europe. For example,
Germany insists that if the Transdniestrian problem is settled
together with Russia, the way will open to strengthening the
previously existing regime and Russia will return to this treaty which
will ensure greater stabilization in Europe. Thus, the Transdniestrian
conflict is far closer, especially because Moldova wants to become a
candidate for EU accession after Croatia and possibly, Serbia, and
Romania is actively lobbying this. Therefore, in order to enable
Moldova to move towards the EU, there are powers in Europe that are
trying to settle the conflict in Transdniestria first. By the way,
they bind the settlement of the conflict with the West's readiness to
speak to Medvedev about Euroatlantic security, overall. As for
Nagorno-Karabakh, the situation there is very complicated since there
are two principles in this problem settlement. There is the Kosovo
option and the option of giving priority to the territorial integrity
of states. In fact, Europe insists on old positions, that is
territorial integrity cannot be violated, and believes that
Nagorno-Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan de jure. Meanwhile, 20 years
have passed since the start of the conflict and it still remains
unsolved, while Europe has an ambiguous attitude towards it. In
addition, there are no instruments to start a successful settlement
now. All negotiating efforts are aimed at averting new bloodshed.
Leyla Tagiyeva
News.Az
From: A. Papazian
July 23 2010
Europe 'more interested' in Transdniestria than Karabakh
Fri 23 July 2010 | 14:29 GMT Text size:
Alexander Rahr News.Az interviews Alexander Rahr, program director for
Russia-Eurasia at the German Council on Foreign Relations.
The German Council on Foreign Relations has organized a major event on
EU and German contacts with the South Caucasus in July. How do you
explain Berlin's interest in the region?
Political forces inside Germany, who believe that overall foreign and
defence policy is dormant and should be woken up and consolidated, are
becoming relatively more active. Europe is emerging from the financial
crisis, so more active engagement in foreign policy is called for. The
South Caucasus region is of extreme importance for Germany and Europe
as an energy corridor. Therefore, Europe must invigorate its positions
and its influence in this region. A great many meetings have recently
been held in this regard; Germany has paid great attention to the
South Caucasus. I think the fact that the Azerbaijani, Armenian and
Georgian foreign ministers and the Armenian president recently visited
Berlin also prove that these countries realize that the key to
rapprochement with the EU is now in Germany. Therefore, they are
intensifying their policy on Europe.
There is an opinion that Germany has a different policy on Russia from
the rest of Europe, that Berlin is friendlier to Moscow because of its
gas interests which manifested itself in the mild criticism of the
Georgian-Russian war. What do you think?
I don't think so. Probably, there was something of the kind in the
time of Shroeder, Kohl or in the Soviet era, but no such special
relations can be seen now. There are economic interests which can also
be seen in Italy, Spain, France and Great Britain. By the way, Poland
also has this interest in Russia.
I think the Georgian conflict is not so decisive in this respect.
Europe has already passed its verdict based on a thorough
investigation of the events. I think there is no doubt that
Saakashvili provoked the attacks on South Ossetia through the use of
force. Now criticism of Russia is on the back-burner. The West has the
position that it is difficult to change the status quo.
Now Russia is ready to modernize and is asking the West for
assistance. Germany has money and the intention to help Russia; there
are many forms of cooperation, which is why Germany is moving in this
direction. But I think it does not forget its other partners either.
Mrs Merkel is performing a circus balancing act. I think no-one,
including Georgia, Azerbaijan or Armenia, can accuse her of supporting
any side. She is a master of balance.
Can we hope that economic interests will encourage Europe to be more
active in stabilizing the situation in the Caucasus, in particular, in
the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
German companies are very interested in investing in energy transit.
It is no secret that the Nabucco project, despite Russia's
disapproval, is gaining greater support among European countries and
companies, including major German companies. Despite all the
difficulties. Yes, I think Germany wants to raise its influence in the
region through greater economic activity.
But I have to disappoint you about the Karabakh conflict. Germans
think it is first necessary to settle the Transdniestrian problem
which is also a difficult problem but is closer to Europe than
Nagorno-Karabakh.
But the Karabakh conflict is the oldest in Eastern Europe and occurred
in a country on which Europe is pinning its hopes for energy security.
Whatever you say, interest in Moldova is much lower.
No, Moldova is a stumbling block for the whole policy on the
nonproliferation of conventional weapons in Europe. For example,
Germany insists that if the Transdniestrian problem is settled
together with Russia, the way will open to strengthening the
previously existing regime and Russia will return to this treaty which
will ensure greater stabilization in Europe. Thus, the Transdniestrian
conflict is far closer, especially because Moldova wants to become a
candidate for EU accession after Croatia and possibly, Serbia, and
Romania is actively lobbying this. Therefore, in order to enable
Moldova to move towards the EU, there are powers in Europe that are
trying to settle the conflict in Transdniestria first. By the way,
they bind the settlement of the conflict with the West's readiness to
speak to Medvedev about Euroatlantic security, overall. As for
Nagorno-Karabakh, the situation there is very complicated since there
are two principles in this problem settlement. There is the Kosovo
option and the option of giving priority to the territorial integrity
of states. In fact, Europe insists on old positions, that is
territorial integrity cannot be violated, and believes that
Nagorno-Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan de jure. Meanwhile, 20 years
have passed since the start of the conflict and it still remains
unsolved, while Europe has an ambiguous attitude towards it. In
addition, there are no instruments to start a successful settlement
now. All negotiating efforts are aimed at averting new bloodshed.
Leyla Tagiyeva
News.Az
From: A. Papazian