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APA, Azerbaijan
Sept 10 2011
Former US Ambassador to NATO: `There is always the possibility of
destabilization - whether it is Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia, Ossettia,
or elsewhere in the Caucasus' - INTERVIEW
[ 10 Sep 2011 12:12 ]
`The United States believes in the rights of the people and states of
the Caucasus themselves, and does not agree with the assertion of a
Russian `sphere of influence''
Washington. Isabel Levine - APA. Former US Ambassador to NATO and
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Volker is on his way to
Azerbaijan, next week. Mr. Volker, who currently serves as senior
fellow and managing director of the Center for Transatlantic Relations
at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International
Studies, will be in Baku, on Wednesday, September 14. In his pre-visit
interview with APA's Washington DC correspondent Ambassador Volker
described the visit and shared his view on some of the regional
developments.
- Why are you visiting Baku at this time?
- I am helping an educational institution - the Legislative Leadership
Institute, which is part of the American College of Dublin, Ireland -
find international partners for its Masters Degree programs. I believe
that Azerbaijan could be a fascinating place for Members of Parliament
and state legislatures to visit as part of their Masters degree
studies, and I believe it would be a tremendous benefit for Azerbaijan
to expose these kinds of future leaders to everything this country has
to offer. So it should be a win-win, and I'm hoping to help both sides
here make the right connections. And it's also a great chance to visit
my friend Matt Bryza, who is a fantastic representative of the United
States here in Baku.
- Let us ask some questions about the regional developments. Just
recently, the South Caucasus countries commemorated the third
anniversary of the last war in the region. Today many local analysts
question whether the stability in the region is strong and if there is
any possibility of destabilization?
- The truth is that until these issues are finally and truly resolved,
there is always the possibility of destabilization - whether it is
Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia, Ossettia, or elsewhere in the Caucasus.
That's why it is so important for the governments of the region to
stay focused on efforts to reach settlements, and to continue to press
forward on domestic political reform and economic opportunity. The
more successful the countries in the region are in terms of freedom
and prosperity, the more easily the lingering conflicts will be
resolved.
- Should the South Caucasus countries look for their stability and
protection in NATO? Is there any possibility for them to integrate
into it?
- Countries that join NATO need to be security contributors even more
than they are security consumers. NATO's doors are always open.
But it takes strong democracies, able to contribute to the security of
NATO as whole, to be able to walk through those open doors. In the
short-term, therefore, it is the process of reform, stabilization, and
resolving long-standing conflicts that will provide the most security.
Over time, success in those areas will make NATO membership more
likely, and thus help guarantee such stability for the very long-term.
- There is no doubt that Russia still considers the region under it
influence. Do you think the US and Russia can anyhow cooperate in that
region?
- In principle, the US and Russia ought to be able to find ground for
cooperation in the Caucasus. We support democracy, peace, human
development, anti-terrorism, and anti-narcotics efforts, for example.
But to the extent Russia believes it has a special `droit-de-regard'
over the Caucasus, we are also bound to disagree. The United States
believes in the rights of the people and states of the Caucasus
themselves, and does not agree with the assertion of a Russian `sphere
of influence.'
- What long-term prospects do you see for the frozen conflicts, such
as Nagorno-Karabakh, what do you think is the next step in NK?
- Lingering, long-term conflicts serve no one's interests. They
depress economic activity and investment. They perpetuate fear and
uncertainty among local populations.
They create spaces in which criminal activity, drugs and human
trafficking, and all manner of other of societal ills can flourish. It
is therefore in the interest of every government, every leader, and
every citizen - regardless of ethnicity, religion, or identity - to
work to overcome these lingering conflicts.
I have long felt that the elements of a solution for Nagorno-Karabakh
have been on the table for some time. It takes courageous political
leadership to act in the long-term interests of the people of the
region, when short-term fears and grievances would stand in the way.
- More generally, do you see any major changes in the South Caucasus this year?
- Unfortunately, at this state, I am not predicting much change in the
South Caucasus this year. Conflicts are indeed embedded, Russia's
occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossettia will continue well beyond
the Sochi Olympics, N-K does not seem to be moving, and the United
States is distracted with domestic politics and a bad economy. So it
is difficult to predict change. That said - this creates a tremendous
window of opportunity for leadership within the region, and I hope
that leaders there seize this moment.
Sept 10 2011
Former US Ambassador to NATO: `There is always the possibility of
destabilization - whether it is Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia, Ossettia,
or elsewhere in the Caucasus' - INTERVIEW
[ 10 Sep 2011 12:12 ]
`The United States believes in the rights of the people and states of
the Caucasus themselves, and does not agree with the assertion of a
Russian `sphere of influence''
Washington. Isabel Levine - APA. Former US Ambassador to NATO and
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Volker is on his way to
Azerbaijan, next week. Mr. Volker, who currently serves as senior
fellow and managing director of the Center for Transatlantic Relations
at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International
Studies, will be in Baku, on Wednesday, September 14. In his pre-visit
interview with APA's Washington DC correspondent Ambassador Volker
described the visit and shared his view on some of the regional
developments.
- Why are you visiting Baku at this time?
- I am helping an educational institution - the Legislative Leadership
Institute, which is part of the American College of Dublin, Ireland -
find international partners for its Masters Degree programs. I believe
that Azerbaijan could be a fascinating place for Members of Parliament
and state legislatures to visit as part of their Masters degree
studies, and I believe it would be a tremendous benefit for Azerbaijan
to expose these kinds of future leaders to everything this country has
to offer. So it should be a win-win, and I'm hoping to help both sides
here make the right connections. And it's also a great chance to visit
my friend Matt Bryza, who is a fantastic representative of the United
States here in Baku.
- Let us ask some questions about the regional developments. Just
recently, the South Caucasus countries commemorated the third
anniversary of the last war in the region. Today many local analysts
question whether the stability in the region is strong and if there is
any possibility of destabilization?
- The truth is that until these issues are finally and truly resolved,
there is always the possibility of destabilization - whether it is
Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia, Ossettia, or elsewhere in the Caucasus.
That's why it is so important for the governments of the region to
stay focused on efforts to reach settlements, and to continue to press
forward on domestic political reform and economic opportunity. The
more successful the countries in the region are in terms of freedom
and prosperity, the more easily the lingering conflicts will be
resolved.
- Should the South Caucasus countries look for their stability and
protection in NATO? Is there any possibility for them to integrate
into it?
- Countries that join NATO need to be security contributors even more
than they are security consumers. NATO's doors are always open.
But it takes strong democracies, able to contribute to the security of
NATO as whole, to be able to walk through those open doors. In the
short-term, therefore, it is the process of reform, stabilization, and
resolving long-standing conflicts that will provide the most security.
Over time, success in those areas will make NATO membership more
likely, and thus help guarantee such stability for the very long-term.
- There is no doubt that Russia still considers the region under it
influence. Do you think the US and Russia can anyhow cooperate in that
region?
- In principle, the US and Russia ought to be able to find ground for
cooperation in the Caucasus. We support democracy, peace, human
development, anti-terrorism, and anti-narcotics efforts, for example.
But to the extent Russia believes it has a special `droit-de-regard'
over the Caucasus, we are also bound to disagree. The United States
believes in the rights of the people and states of the Caucasus
themselves, and does not agree with the assertion of a Russian `sphere
of influence.'
- What long-term prospects do you see for the frozen conflicts, such
as Nagorno-Karabakh, what do you think is the next step in NK?
- Lingering, long-term conflicts serve no one's interests. They
depress economic activity and investment. They perpetuate fear and
uncertainty among local populations.
They create spaces in which criminal activity, drugs and human
trafficking, and all manner of other of societal ills can flourish. It
is therefore in the interest of every government, every leader, and
every citizen - regardless of ethnicity, religion, or identity - to
work to overcome these lingering conflicts.
I have long felt that the elements of a solution for Nagorno-Karabakh
have been on the table for some time. It takes courageous political
leadership to act in the long-term interests of the people of the
region, when short-term fears and grievances would stand in the way.
- More generally, do you see any major changes in the South Caucasus this year?
- Unfortunately, at this state, I am not predicting much change in the
South Caucasus this year. Conflicts are indeed embedded, Russia's
occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossettia will continue well beyond
the Sochi Olympics, N-K does not seem to be moving, and the United
States is distracted with domestic politics and a bad economy. So it
is difficult to predict change. That said - this creates a tremendous
window of opportunity for leadership within the region, and I hope
that leaders there seize this moment.