AMERICAN PROFESSOR: NAGORNO-KARABAKH PROBLEM IS BEGINNING TO RESEMBLE THAT OF ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN STAND-OFF
Today
http://www.today.az/news/politics/76365.html
Nov 9 2010
Azerbaijan
Interview with Michael Gunter, professor of Political Science at the
Tennessee Technological University, USA.
How do you see the solution to the Iran problem from international
perspective? If the decision is to bring more military to the region,
then what are the neighbors of the country expected to do?
The Iran problem needs to be addressed completely through diplomacy.
This means that the military stick be kept in the background but
potentially available as a thorough diplomatic process is engaged.
The US still believes that the Iranian policy is dangerous not only
for the people of Iran but for the region. Could you please describe
Iran's danger to the region? Should countries like Azerbaijan be
worried and what should they do about that?
Much of the Iranian problem has to do with the unrestrained and
threatening rhetoric with which Iranian President Mahmud Ahmedinejad
engages. Iran has a long and distinguished history as a great
regional power that is acceptable to its neighbors. Therefore, I do
not believe that Azerbaijan should be worried. I think neighboring
countries should try to explain to the US how it is necessary for
them to continue economic relations with Tehran, that such relations
would actually help soften the heated rhetoric that threatens violence.
How important is the South Caucasus region for global affairs?
The South Caucasus region is mainly important for global affairs only
for its oil resources. The US maintains a keen interest, but realizes
that it remains a distant third power when compared to the proximity
of Russia, Iran, and Turkey. Still given that the US is in many ways
the world's only super power, by definition it remains interested in
all global regions especially the South Caucasus because of its oil.
What are the prospects of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh issue today?
What is needed to be done by the parties involved and world mediators?
I do not see any early solution to the issue regarding
Nagorno-Karabakh. Indeed all the third parties and Armenia tend to
benefit by the continuing impasse.
oan the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict be compared to the other regional
conflicts, such as Abkhazia, North Ossetia, Israeli-Palestinian
stand-off? In what ways are their road-maps similar?
I think the Nagorno-Karabakh problem is beginning to resemble that
of the Israeli-Palestinian stand-off. Abkhazia and North Ossetia on
the other hand remain very secondary and more recent problems and
therefore cannot yet be compared to Nagorno-Karabakh.
From: A. Papazian
Today
http://www.today.az/news/politics/76365.html
Nov 9 2010
Azerbaijan
Interview with Michael Gunter, professor of Political Science at the
Tennessee Technological University, USA.
How do you see the solution to the Iran problem from international
perspective? If the decision is to bring more military to the region,
then what are the neighbors of the country expected to do?
The Iran problem needs to be addressed completely through diplomacy.
This means that the military stick be kept in the background but
potentially available as a thorough diplomatic process is engaged.
The US still believes that the Iranian policy is dangerous not only
for the people of Iran but for the region. Could you please describe
Iran's danger to the region? Should countries like Azerbaijan be
worried and what should they do about that?
Much of the Iranian problem has to do with the unrestrained and
threatening rhetoric with which Iranian President Mahmud Ahmedinejad
engages. Iran has a long and distinguished history as a great
regional power that is acceptable to its neighbors. Therefore, I do
not believe that Azerbaijan should be worried. I think neighboring
countries should try to explain to the US how it is necessary for
them to continue economic relations with Tehran, that such relations
would actually help soften the heated rhetoric that threatens violence.
How important is the South Caucasus region for global affairs?
The South Caucasus region is mainly important for global affairs only
for its oil resources. The US maintains a keen interest, but realizes
that it remains a distant third power when compared to the proximity
of Russia, Iran, and Turkey. Still given that the US is in many ways
the world's only super power, by definition it remains interested in
all global regions especially the South Caucasus because of its oil.
What are the prospects of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh issue today?
What is needed to be done by the parties involved and world mediators?
I do not see any early solution to the issue regarding
Nagorno-Karabakh. Indeed all the third parties and Armenia tend to
benefit by the continuing impasse.
oan the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict be compared to the other regional
conflicts, such as Abkhazia, North Ossetia, Israeli-Palestinian
stand-off? In what ways are their road-maps similar?
I think the Nagorno-Karabakh problem is beginning to resemble that
of the Israeli-Palestinian stand-off. Abkhazia and North Ossetia on
the other hand remain very secondary and more recent problems and
therefore cannot yet be compared to Nagorno-Karabakh.
From: A. Papazian