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AZERBAIJAN'S ULTIMATUM TO U.S.
Naira Hayrumyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/comments26022.html
Published: 15:34:32 - 02/05/2012
Azerbaijan enhances aggressive attacks against the world community
trying to sell its oil and gas at a higher price. The intention is
natural, it is only necessary to find out who will pay for the gas
the high price set by Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan may reconsider its pro-Western stance, and reconstruct
into a "new block" if it doesn't receive more support, especially
on the issue of conflict with neighboring Armenia. The head of the
foreign department of the Azerbaijani presidential administration
Novruz Mammadov told Bloomberg. He noted that Azerbaijan was asked
to join another political union but "for now it does not care for
this proposal".
"We expect Western support for the settlement of the Karabakh issue,"
said Mammadov.
President Obama nominated State Dept. Advisor on energy issues
Richard Morningstar as ambassador in Azerbaijan. Morningstar does not
hide that his activities will be directed at persuading Azerbaijan,
Turkmenistan and Iraq to direct their gas into the pipes which provide
gas to Europe bypassing Russia and Iran.
Actually, Azerbaijan gave an ultimatum. It will sell gas to Europe,
it will even agree with a Transcaucasia gas pipe only if the West
helps to resolve the Karabakh issue.
This condition had been put forward before. For example, the former
U.S. Ambassador Matthew Bryza repeatedly called to resolve the Karabakh
issue, to pave the way for the Armenian-Turkish relations and energy
projects. But international actors, even the U.S.
administration is not in a hurry with this decision, preferring to
separate these three problems.
Why does Russia, the U.S., Europe or even Iran, refuse Azerbaijan's
conditions and insist on the settlement of the Karabakh issue? Once
Moscow tried to do that but it clashed with the resistance by the U.S.
and Iran. Now, apparently, Moscow also refuses trade with Baku over
Karabakh.
Karabakh is a trump card. Without Karabakh, the Turkish-Azerbaijani
belt will close which will continue to the north in the Russian
Caucasus and to the east in Central Asia. None of the international
players will benefit from the creation of such zones which was not
allowed earlier in the 20th century and will not be allowed now.
So, Baku needs to get ready either to give up preconditions on Karabakh
in the energy negotiations or he will be forced to do that under the
threat to isolate Baku. Morningstar will evidently fulfill this task.
Europe also helps him. Azerbaijan's authorities have been at "a
cold war" with Germany for a couple of weeks. The target of attacks
by pro-governmental mass media became the German ambassador to
Azerbaijan Herbert Quelle because of his participation in a meeting
with representatives of Western diplomats with the opposition of the
Public Chamber.
It is unknown what the destiny of Eurovision in Baku will be. A lot
of European leaders have already announced to boycott the European
Cup in Europe, the same may happen to Baku. The European politicians
are already speaking about the inexpediency to hold the contest
in non-democratic Baku. No one complained that Armenia refused the
contest.
So, Eurovision may be the failure of the ultimatum of Baku's policy
which will be made clear that everything has its price in the world.
If claims are too many, it is possible to remain with nothing.
From: A. Papazian
Naira Hayrumyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/comments26022.html
Published: 15:34:32 - 02/05/2012
Azerbaijan enhances aggressive attacks against the world community
trying to sell its oil and gas at a higher price. The intention is
natural, it is only necessary to find out who will pay for the gas
the high price set by Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan may reconsider its pro-Western stance, and reconstruct
into a "new block" if it doesn't receive more support, especially
on the issue of conflict with neighboring Armenia. The head of the
foreign department of the Azerbaijani presidential administration
Novruz Mammadov told Bloomberg. He noted that Azerbaijan was asked
to join another political union but "for now it does not care for
this proposal".
"We expect Western support for the settlement of the Karabakh issue,"
said Mammadov.
President Obama nominated State Dept. Advisor on energy issues
Richard Morningstar as ambassador in Azerbaijan. Morningstar does not
hide that his activities will be directed at persuading Azerbaijan,
Turkmenistan and Iraq to direct their gas into the pipes which provide
gas to Europe bypassing Russia and Iran.
Actually, Azerbaijan gave an ultimatum. It will sell gas to Europe,
it will even agree with a Transcaucasia gas pipe only if the West
helps to resolve the Karabakh issue.
This condition had been put forward before. For example, the former
U.S. Ambassador Matthew Bryza repeatedly called to resolve the Karabakh
issue, to pave the way for the Armenian-Turkish relations and energy
projects. But international actors, even the U.S.
administration is not in a hurry with this decision, preferring to
separate these three problems.
Why does Russia, the U.S., Europe or even Iran, refuse Azerbaijan's
conditions and insist on the settlement of the Karabakh issue? Once
Moscow tried to do that but it clashed with the resistance by the U.S.
and Iran. Now, apparently, Moscow also refuses trade with Baku over
Karabakh.
Karabakh is a trump card. Without Karabakh, the Turkish-Azerbaijani
belt will close which will continue to the north in the Russian
Caucasus and to the east in Central Asia. None of the international
players will benefit from the creation of such zones which was not
allowed earlier in the 20th century and will not be allowed now.
So, Baku needs to get ready either to give up preconditions on Karabakh
in the energy negotiations or he will be forced to do that under the
threat to isolate Baku. Morningstar will evidently fulfill this task.
Europe also helps him. Azerbaijan's authorities have been at "a
cold war" with Germany for a couple of weeks. The target of attacks
by pro-governmental mass media became the German ambassador to
Azerbaijan Herbert Quelle because of his participation in a meeting
with representatives of Western diplomats with the opposition of the
Public Chamber.
It is unknown what the destiny of Eurovision in Baku will be. A lot
of European leaders have already announced to boycott the European
Cup in Europe, the same may happen to Baku. The European politicians
are already speaking about the inexpediency to hold the contest
in non-democratic Baku. No one complained that Armenia refused the
contest.
So, Eurovision may be the failure of the ultimatum of Baku's policy
which will be made clear that everything has its price in the world.
If claims are too many, it is possible to remain with nothing.
From: A. Papazian