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MARTIN SIEFF ON RESOLUTION OF THE KARABAKH CONFLICT
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Sept 13 2013
13 September 2013 - 1:01pm
Interview by Anna Demchenko exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
The leading analyst of The Globalist, Martin Sieff, told Vestnik
Kavkaza about chances for settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
considering appointment of James Warlick the co-chairman of the Minsk
Group of the OSCE from the U.S.
- Obama has praised Warlick, saying that "his recent appointment is an
important sign of the United States' strong and unequivocal commitment
to assisting the parties to achieve a peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict." Why was he appointed as the US co-chairman
at the OSCE? What in his personality and background indicates that
he will find a way out of the current situation with the negotiations?
- Mr. Warlick is an extremely experienced figure and his whole track
record has been in the area of constructive negotiations. This is
extremely important. The U.S, if under President George W. Bush and
even when Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State, have an unfortunate
track record of imposing its own dictats on the organization for
security and cooperation in Europe (the OSCE). The most striking
example of this came at the OSCE summit in Kazakhstan, Astana, in
December 2010, almost three years ago, when then-Secretary of State
Hilary Clinton simply refused to take on board or cooperate with a
Russian-crafted initiative. That would have put more resources behind
OSCE efforts to combat transnational crime across Eurasia, Clinton's
position was that the OSCE should be primarily an organization to
promote democracy in American terms across Eurasia and it should not
become a more active player on the issue of transnational crime. This
was a very unfortunate position. And it was not negotiated. It was
a dictat of Secretary Clinton. However, now we have John Kerry as U.S.
Secretary of State. And he has sent very different signals to Moscow,
Beijing and other capitals in the world. John Kerry was a professional
diplomat and a very successful one in the U.S. Foreign Service decades
before he became a U.S. senator. He sat in the senate with distinction
for more than a quarter of a century. And he's brought those qualities
of a team player, the qualities of a diplomat, the qualities of a
figure who regards experience as important, who regards diplomacy
as important, who regards it important to listen to what the other
parties have to say, and try to negotiate agreements that will fit
their concerns as well. This is also behind his clear recommendation
and choice of Mr. Warlick to co-chair the OSCE. And this has very
positive implications for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and for other
disputed issues in the Caucasus.
- In what ways do you expect the USA to optimise efforts aimed at a
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement?
- Such issues can only be peacefully resolved when the United States
and Russia, together, line up their appropriate sides and supporters
and work constructively together, even when there is no guarantee of
full success, because the issues involved are so far-reaching and the
differences between, for example, Armenia and Azerbaijan positions
on Nagorno-Karabakh are so great. But when the U.S. and Russia work
constructively together, good things happen. Mr. Warlick's appointment
is a strong indication that President Obama and Secretary of State
Kerry want good things to happen in result of Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict and in improving the effectiveness of the OSCE and in
improving U.S. and Russian cooperation in the OSCE.
- What can be expected from the visit of Warlick to Baku, Armenia
and Nagorno-Karabakh?
- I think there are further implications of this, and that is that
when Mr.Warlick flies to Baku; he will certainly be giving messages
of U.S. reassurance and support to the government of Azerbaijan,
President Aliyev. The U.S. has very good influence there and wants to
keep influence in Baku, but he will also bring another message, which
is that Baku must negotiate constructively with Armenia and the United
States expects it to; and the United States wants to work with Russia
for a peaceful resolution of this issue. Now the Azerbaijani response
to this will be very important, because while they can be securing
U.S. support, they also have to realize that they do live in the region
and that these issues in the long run need to be peacefully reconciled
and solved to the greater good and satisfaction of everyone concerned.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/interviews/politics/45066.html
From: A. Papazian
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Sept 13 2013
13 September 2013 - 1:01pm
Interview by Anna Demchenko exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
The leading analyst of The Globalist, Martin Sieff, told Vestnik
Kavkaza about chances for settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
considering appointment of James Warlick the co-chairman of the Minsk
Group of the OSCE from the U.S.
- Obama has praised Warlick, saying that "his recent appointment is an
important sign of the United States' strong and unequivocal commitment
to assisting the parties to achieve a peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict." Why was he appointed as the US co-chairman
at the OSCE? What in his personality and background indicates that
he will find a way out of the current situation with the negotiations?
- Mr. Warlick is an extremely experienced figure and his whole track
record has been in the area of constructive negotiations. This is
extremely important. The U.S, if under President George W. Bush and
even when Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State, have an unfortunate
track record of imposing its own dictats on the organization for
security and cooperation in Europe (the OSCE). The most striking
example of this came at the OSCE summit in Kazakhstan, Astana, in
December 2010, almost three years ago, when then-Secretary of State
Hilary Clinton simply refused to take on board or cooperate with a
Russian-crafted initiative. That would have put more resources behind
OSCE efforts to combat transnational crime across Eurasia, Clinton's
position was that the OSCE should be primarily an organization to
promote democracy in American terms across Eurasia and it should not
become a more active player on the issue of transnational crime. This
was a very unfortunate position. And it was not negotiated. It was
a dictat of Secretary Clinton. However, now we have John Kerry as U.S.
Secretary of State. And he has sent very different signals to Moscow,
Beijing and other capitals in the world. John Kerry was a professional
diplomat and a very successful one in the U.S. Foreign Service decades
before he became a U.S. senator. He sat in the senate with distinction
for more than a quarter of a century. And he's brought those qualities
of a team player, the qualities of a diplomat, the qualities of a
figure who regards experience as important, who regards diplomacy
as important, who regards it important to listen to what the other
parties have to say, and try to negotiate agreements that will fit
their concerns as well. This is also behind his clear recommendation
and choice of Mr. Warlick to co-chair the OSCE. And this has very
positive implications for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and for other
disputed issues in the Caucasus.
- In what ways do you expect the USA to optimise efforts aimed at a
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement?
- Such issues can only be peacefully resolved when the United States
and Russia, together, line up their appropriate sides and supporters
and work constructively together, even when there is no guarantee of
full success, because the issues involved are so far-reaching and the
differences between, for example, Armenia and Azerbaijan positions
on Nagorno-Karabakh are so great. But when the U.S. and Russia work
constructively together, good things happen. Mr. Warlick's appointment
is a strong indication that President Obama and Secretary of State
Kerry want good things to happen in result of Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict and in improving the effectiveness of the OSCE and in
improving U.S. and Russian cooperation in the OSCE.
- What can be expected from the visit of Warlick to Baku, Armenia
and Nagorno-Karabakh?
- I think there are further implications of this, and that is that
when Mr.Warlick flies to Baku; he will certainly be giving messages
of U.S. reassurance and support to the government of Azerbaijan,
President Aliyev. The U.S. has very good influence there and wants to
keep influence in Baku, but he will also bring another message, which
is that Baku must negotiate constructively with Armenia and the United
States expects it to; and the United States wants to work with Russia
for a peaceful resolution of this issue. Now the Azerbaijani response
to this will be very important, because while they can be securing
U.S. support, they also have to realize that they do live in the region
and that these issues in the long run need to be peacefully reconciled
and solved to the greater good and satisfaction of everyone concerned.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/interviews/politics/45066.html
From: A. Papazian