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U.S. RESPECTS DEFENSE CHOICES OF S.CAUCUSES COUNTRIES
Trend News Agency
Sept 15 2011
Azerbaijan
U.S., Washington, Sept. 15 /Trend special corr. M.Assenova/
Russia will have a role in the South Caucasus, but no country should
have the right to a privileged sphere of influence in the region,
said today Jennifer Walsh, Principle Director for Russia, Ukraine
and Eurasia at the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) at a conference
on 20 years of independence of the South Caucasus. The conference
is hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in
Washington, DC.
"We do not agree with this position of Russia," she added.
Ms. Walsh stressed that the Defense Department respects the political
and defense choices made by each of the South Caucasus countries.
"We welcome the aspirations of Georgia to join NATO, this right is
mandated by the international law," she said. "We respect the choice
of Azerbaijan to partner with NATO and also Armeniašs membership in
NATO's Partnership for Peace," she said.
Ms. Walsh said that the importance of the region to U.S. security
interests is based on its geographical proximity to Iran and countries
that are possible suppliers of weapons of mass destruction. The South
Caucasus plays a critical role in the logistics to sustain the supply
lines to NATOšs military operations in Afghanistan. The region is also
an important energy producer and energy corridor to Europe. Jennifer
Walsh pointed out that the United States has national interest in
promoting stability and conflict resolution, particularly in a region
prone to violence where the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has not been
resolved for two decades. Last but not least, the South Caucasus is a
part of the larger Euro-Atlantic space and each country in the region
is free to join the Euro-Atlantic institutions.
Ms. Walsh outlined major aspects of U.S. defense cooperation with
Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. In Azerbaijan, the DoD focuses on
reforms of the military institutions, building a NATO interoperable
unit, and ensuring protection of the energy infrastructure. In Armenia,
DoD focuses on peacekeeping training, reforming the military, and
training and education of military personnel. In Georgia, DoD supports
defense reforms and modernization, and the countryšs NATO aspirations.
Trend News Agency
Sept 15 2011
Azerbaijan
U.S., Washington, Sept. 15 /Trend special corr. M.Assenova/
Russia will have a role in the South Caucasus, but no country should
have the right to a privileged sphere of influence in the region,
said today Jennifer Walsh, Principle Director for Russia, Ukraine
and Eurasia at the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) at a conference
on 20 years of independence of the South Caucasus. The conference
is hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in
Washington, DC.
"We do not agree with this position of Russia," she added.
Ms. Walsh stressed that the Defense Department respects the political
and defense choices made by each of the South Caucasus countries.
"We welcome the aspirations of Georgia to join NATO, this right is
mandated by the international law," she said. "We respect the choice
of Azerbaijan to partner with NATO and also Armeniašs membership in
NATO's Partnership for Peace," she said.
Ms. Walsh said that the importance of the region to U.S. security
interests is based on its geographical proximity to Iran and countries
that are possible suppliers of weapons of mass destruction. The South
Caucasus plays a critical role in the logistics to sustain the supply
lines to NATOšs military operations in Afghanistan. The region is also
an important energy producer and energy corridor to Europe. Jennifer
Walsh pointed out that the United States has national interest in
promoting stability and conflict resolution, particularly in a region
prone to violence where the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has not been
resolved for two decades. Last but not least, the South Caucasus is a
part of the larger Euro-Atlantic space and each country in the region
is free to join the Euro-Atlantic institutions.
Ms. Walsh outlined major aspects of U.S. defense cooperation with
Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. In Azerbaijan, the DoD focuses on
reforms of the military institutions, building a NATO interoperable
unit, and ensuring protection of the energy infrastructure. In Armenia,
DoD focuses on peacekeeping training, reforming the military, and
training and education of military personnel. In Georgia, DoD supports
defense reforms and modernization, and the countryšs NATO aspirations.