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U.S. DIPLOMAT: WAR BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA COULD BE DEVASTATING FOR ALL SIDES IN THE CASPIAN BASIN
arminfo
Friday, April 6, 15:10
ArmInfo-TURAN: The main objective should be to prevent war between
Azerbaijan and Armenia that could bedevastating for all sides in the
Caspian basin, for the societies of the two countries, and for larger
hopes and prospects for region-wide security and economic development,
John Sitilides, a government relations specialist and advisor to
the State Department, said in an interview with Turan's Washington
correspondent commenting on possible influence of the growing tension
in the region on Nagorno-Karabakh.
"Unfortunately, Armenia has developed very close diplomatic ties
with Russia, and there is a pronounced Russian military presence in
Armenia. Azerbaijan maintains strong ties to Turkey, and enjoys a long-
standing relationship with the U.S. and now Israel. Azerbaijan has
also become a strong trading partner with Germany and with Greece,
through which Azeri natural gas will delivered to Italy and onto
European markets. Two competing blocs seem to have been established
in the Caucasus with Armenia seemingly in the Russian-Iranian camp
and Azerbaijan, with all of its undemocratic practices - and that
remains a major problem for U.S.-Azeri relations - aligning it with
essentially Western powers.
"As Iran continues to attack the Baku government's authority
in Azerbaijan through its terrorist activities, espionage, and a
broader range of activities of great concern, geography has condemned
Azerbaijan to no choice but to exist as a neighbor to Iran. Baku needs
to tread carefully and in a non-provocative manner until such time
as behavior change - or ultimately, regime change - occurs in Teheran.
Other neighbors such as Turkey, which interesting among NATO
members enjoys the warmest relations with Iran, can be supportive of
Azerbaijan's regional balancing efforts against the backdrop of its
precarious geopolitical situation," he said.
From: Baghdasarian
arminfo
Friday, April 6, 15:10
ArmInfo-TURAN: The main objective should be to prevent war between
Azerbaijan and Armenia that could bedevastating for all sides in the
Caspian basin, for the societies of the two countries, and for larger
hopes and prospects for region-wide security and economic development,
John Sitilides, a government relations specialist and advisor to
the State Department, said in an interview with Turan's Washington
correspondent commenting on possible influence of the growing tension
in the region on Nagorno-Karabakh.
"Unfortunately, Armenia has developed very close diplomatic ties
with Russia, and there is a pronounced Russian military presence in
Armenia. Azerbaijan maintains strong ties to Turkey, and enjoys a long-
standing relationship with the U.S. and now Israel. Azerbaijan has
also become a strong trading partner with Germany and with Greece,
through which Azeri natural gas will delivered to Italy and onto
European markets. Two competing blocs seem to have been established
in the Caucasus with Armenia seemingly in the Russian-Iranian camp
and Azerbaijan, with all of its undemocratic practices - and that
remains a major problem for U.S.-Azeri relations - aligning it with
essentially Western powers.
"As Iran continues to attack the Baku government's authority
in Azerbaijan through its terrorist activities, espionage, and a
broader range of activities of great concern, geography has condemned
Azerbaijan to no choice but to exist as a neighbor to Iran. Baku needs
to tread carefully and in a non-provocative manner until such time
as behavior change - or ultimately, regime change - occurs in Teheran.
Other neighbors such as Turkey, which interesting among NATO
members enjoys the warmest relations with Iran, can be supportive of
Azerbaijan's regional balancing efforts against the backdrop of its
precarious geopolitical situation," he said.
From: Baghdasarian