US ANALYST: "IF THE LAST TWENTY THREE YEARS TELL US ANYTHING, IT IS THAT WESTERN STATES AND INSTITUTIONS DO NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT LEVERAGE OVER ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN TO PRODUCE PEACE"
APA
http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=162122
Dec 20 2011
Azerbaijan
Washington. Isabel Levine - APA. A prominent American analyst on South
Caucasus Prof. Neil MacFarlane, who currently serves as a head of
the Department of Politics and International Relations at the Oxford
University, believes that, the European missile defense program will
not much effect on the importance of Azerbaijani Gabala Radar.
However, he says, prospects for further Russia-US cooperation in
security are limited.
"The trend appears to be in the other direction, not least because
of the disagreements over missile defense, and also Iran", he told
to APA's correspondent.
Prof. MacFarlane says the Western approach to the post-Soviet countries
has been to recognize the full sovereignty and independence of
these countries in international affairs. The Russians seem to have
a different view, where the sovereignty of the other republics is
not complete, and Russia has special rights and duties in the former
Soviet space.
"They are particularly sensitive to other regional states "leaning
to the West", and to western efforts to expand security relations in
the region", he added.
Speaking about the South Caucasus' future, the analyst mentioned that
ten years from now, the cooperation of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia
with Euro-Atlantic institutions will be deeper, and that is probably
a good thing for the region. "However, the three states will remain
a long way away from full integration".
As for the prospects of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, Prof.
MacFarla says, "Prospects continue to be poor. The West can mediate,
and they can encourage. But the necessary decisions are local ones".
"If the last twenty three years tell us anything, it is that Western
states and institutions do not have sufficient leverage over Armenia
and Azerbaijan to produce peace. Nor does Russia", he underlined.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
APA
http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=162122
Dec 20 2011
Azerbaijan
Washington. Isabel Levine - APA. A prominent American analyst on South
Caucasus Prof. Neil MacFarlane, who currently serves as a head of
the Department of Politics and International Relations at the Oxford
University, believes that, the European missile defense program will
not much effect on the importance of Azerbaijani Gabala Radar.
However, he says, prospects for further Russia-US cooperation in
security are limited.
"The trend appears to be in the other direction, not least because
of the disagreements over missile defense, and also Iran", he told
to APA's correspondent.
Prof. MacFarlane says the Western approach to the post-Soviet countries
has been to recognize the full sovereignty and independence of
these countries in international affairs. The Russians seem to have
a different view, where the sovereignty of the other republics is
not complete, and Russia has special rights and duties in the former
Soviet space.
"They are particularly sensitive to other regional states "leaning
to the West", and to western efforts to expand security relations in
the region", he added.
Speaking about the South Caucasus' future, the analyst mentioned that
ten years from now, the cooperation of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia
with Euro-Atlantic institutions will be deeper, and that is probably
a good thing for the region. "However, the three states will remain
a long way away from full integration".
As for the prospects of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, Prof.
MacFarla says, "Prospects continue to be poor. The West can mediate,
and they can encourage. But the necessary decisions are local ones".
"If the last twenty three years tell us anything, it is that Western
states and institutions do not have sufficient leverage over Armenia
and Azerbaijan to produce peace. Nor does Russia", he underlined.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress