INTELLIGENCE: U.S CONCERNED OVER SITUATION IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH
Trend
Feb 1 2012
Azerbaijan
1 February 2012, 13:36 (GMT+04:00) U.S. intelligence is concerned
about the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and the possible emergence
of new terror hot spots in Eurasia, the U.S. director of national
intelligence James Clapper's report, presented at the hearing in the
Senate Committee of U.S. Congress, said, ITAR-TASS reported.
'The unresolved conflicts in the Caucasus and instability in some
Central Asian countries are the most possible causes of hot spots in
Eurasia', the report said.
The potential hotbed of conflict in the Caucasus was named as the
Nagorno-Karabakh. "'Mistrust from both sides and continued violence in
the contact line increases the risk of miscalculation that could lead
to escalation of the situation without any warning', the report said.
Regarding Georgia, Mr Clapper expressed the view that the new Georgian
constitution strengthens the powers of the Prime Minister after the
presidential elections of 2013. He said that it gives rise to the
assumption that President Saakashvili will strive to maintain power
as Prime Minister. This may affect the prospects of easing tensions.
The report on Central Asia said that violent extremism in the region
is a reason for concern in the field of security for Moscow.
Tajikistan was referred to as a particularly important country in
the region. It has a long common border with Afghanistan.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. -
are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.
Trend
Feb 1 2012
Azerbaijan
1 February 2012, 13:36 (GMT+04:00) U.S. intelligence is concerned
about the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and the possible emergence
of new terror hot spots in Eurasia, the U.S. director of national
intelligence James Clapper's report, presented at the hearing in the
Senate Committee of U.S. Congress, said, ITAR-TASS reported.
'The unresolved conflicts in the Caucasus and instability in some
Central Asian countries are the most possible causes of hot spots in
Eurasia', the report said.
The potential hotbed of conflict in the Caucasus was named as the
Nagorno-Karabakh. "'Mistrust from both sides and continued violence in
the contact line increases the risk of miscalculation that could lead
to escalation of the situation without any warning', the report said.
Regarding Georgia, Mr Clapper expressed the view that the new Georgian
constitution strengthens the powers of the Prime Minister after the
presidential elections of 2013. He said that it gives rise to the
assumption that President Saakashvili will strive to maintain power
as Prime Minister. This may affect the prospects of easing tensions.
The report on Central Asia said that violent extremism in the region
is a reason for concern in the field of security for Moscow.
Tajikistan was referred to as a particularly important country in
the region. It has a long common border with Afghanistan.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. -
are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.