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U.S. expert about growing tension between U.S. and Azerbaijan
17:33 31/05/2014 >> REGION
U.S. analyst Gerald Robbins, senior fellow at the Foreign Policy
Research Institute, who specializes on the Caucasus region, commented
on the U.S.-Azerbaijani ties which have recently strained by
escalating official rhetoric in Baku against Ambassador Richard
Morningstar's latest interview to the Radio Liberty, Turan reports.
"I generally agree with the Ambassador's comments... which in
diplomatic phrasings, reflect calibrated viewpoints that's needed when
assessing Azerbaijan," in an interview with TURAN said Mr. Robbins,
who once served as Program Director for Freedom House in Baku during
the mid-1990's.
The expert noted that part of Washington's stand is due to
Azerbaijan's being tenuously located between Russia and Iran. Given
the rising threats that both these nations convey, maintaining a
stable Caspian environment is an important theme. He believes that
Azerbaijan's energy potential undoubtedly reinforces this outlook in
US and Western diplomatic circles. In the meantime, Robbins emphasized
that the regional stability does not depend solely on conflicts but on
the democracy level as well, he said, adding that Ambassador
Morningstar's answers reflect this dilemma.
"Overall, it's a challenge that's generally confronting America's
foreign policy outlook Advocating greater political freedom can cause
uncertainty and serious instability. The Arab Spring's aftermath is a
good example," Robbins said arguing, whereas Washington had advocated
the need for change in that region, the results have led to a more
cautious vision.
Asked whether Baku officials' accusing Washington of "financing, and
orchestrating 'Euromaidans'" reflect growing tensions in
US-Azerbaijani relations, Robbins said, he didn't believe there's a
conscientious effort by America to orchestrate political unrest in
Azerbaijan.
As for the US-Azerbaijani ties, the analyst explained that there's
more frustration than tension that's currently defining relations: "If
stability is the main concern, then how does democracy get promoted?
Is it a total or gradual process? Given regional circumstances, can a
democratization process be successfully managed? Both sides need to
specifically address these questions to allay confusion and
misperceptions," Robbins believes.
Speaking about the regional challenges in a wake of Ukrainian events,
Robbins said, the crisis in the neighborhood places Azerbaijan in a
very tenuous position. "The Kremlin's actions in Crimea and Western
Ukraine are "a warning that Azerbaijan's energy potential can be
readily confiscated, particularly if it's viewed as a competing threat
to Russian input," he said.
"If the U.S. and Europe's muted response to the crisis continues,
there must be a heightened sense of anxiety in Baku and neighboring
capitals about Western resolve," he noted.
For Robbins, settling the Nagorno-Karabakh issue seems very remote at
this point, accentuated by Crimea's recent annexation.
"I don't believe Russia would enact a similar operation regarding
Azerbaijan, but likely use subversive means to undermine governmental
authority," the analyst believes. He also said that the Obama
administration's "leading from behind" policy doctrine "isn't working
and needs to assume a more proactive role."
U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Richard Morningstar in an interview with
the Azerbaijani service of "Radio Liberty" stated that the Azerbaijani
authorities put artificial barriers for the development of civil
society for no reason, and persecute and suppress the freedom of
speech and the media. If they continue this policy it may eventually
lead to "Maidan" in Azerbaijan, and they should not blame the West for
this.
After the interview of the Ambassador, Deputy Heads of Azerbaijani
Presidential Administration Novruz Mammadov and Ali Hasanov, Foreign
Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev and the head of the administration
Ramiz Mehtiyev had harshly criticized Ambassador Morningstar and the
U.S. as a whole. In its turn, the U.S. embassy stated, that it is not
agree with such criticism.
http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2014/05/31/robbins/
From: Baghdasarian
17:33 31/05/2014 >> REGION
U.S. analyst Gerald Robbins, senior fellow at the Foreign Policy
Research Institute, who specializes on the Caucasus region, commented
on the U.S.-Azerbaijani ties which have recently strained by
escalating official rhetoric in Baku against Ambassador Richard
Morningstar's latest interview to the Radio Liberty, Turan reports.
"I generally agree with the Ambassador's comments... which in
diplomatic phrasings, reflect calibrated viewpoints that's needed when
assessing Azerbaijan," in an interview with TURAN said Mr. Robbins,
who once served as Program Director for Freedom House in Baku during
the mid-1990's.
The expert noted that part of Washington's stand is due to
Azerbaijan's being tenuously located between Russia and Iran. Given
the rising threats that both these nations convey, maintaining a
stable Caspian environment is an important theme. He believes that
Azerbaijan's energy potential undoubtedly reinforces this outlook in
US and Western diplomatic circles. In the meantime, Robbins emphasized
that the regional stability does not depend solely on conflicts but on
the democracy level as well, he said, adding that Ambassador
Morningstar's answers reflect this dilemma.
"Overall, it's a challenge that's generally confronting America's
foreign policy outlook Advocating greater political freedom can cause
uncertainty and serious instability. The Arab Spring's aftermath is a
good example," Robbins said arguing, whereas Washington had advocated
the need for change in that region, the results have led to a more
cautious vision.
Asked whether Baku officials' accusing Washington of "financing, and
orchestrating 'Euromaidans'" reflect growing tensions in
US-Azerbaijani relations, Robbins said, he didn't believe there's a
conscientious effort by America to orchestrate political unrest in
Azerbaijan.
As for the US-Azerbaijani ties, the analyst explained that there's
more frustration than tension that's currently defining relations: "If
stability is the main concern, then how does democracy get promoted?
Is it a total or gradual process? Given regional circumstances, can a
democratization process be successfully managed? Both sides need to
specifically address these questions to allay confusion and
misperceptions," Robbins believes.
Speaking about the regional challenges in a wake of Ukrainian events,
Robbins said, the crisis in the neighborhood places Azerbaijan in a
very tenuous position. "The Kremlin's actions in Crimea and Western
Ukraine are "a warning that Azerbaijan's energy potential can be
readily confiscated, particularly if it's viewed as a competing threat
to Russian input," he said.
"If the U.S. and Europe's muted response to the crisis continues,
there must be a heightened sense of anxiety in Baku and neighboring
capitals about Western resolve," he noted.
For Robbins, settling the Nagorno-Karabakh issue seems very remote at
this point, accentuated by Crimea's recent annexation.
"I don't believe Russia would enact a similar operation regarding
Azerbaijan, but likely use subversive means to undermine governmental
authority," the analyst believes. He also said that the Obama
administration's "leading from behind" policy doctrine "isn't working
and needs to assume a more proactive role."
U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Richard Morningstar in an interview with
the Azerbaijani service of "Radio Liberty" stated that the Azerbaijani
authorities put artificial barriers for the development of civil
society for no reason, and persecute and suppress the freedom of
speech and the media. If they continue this policy it may eventually
lead to "Maidan" in Azerbaijan, and they should not blame the West for
this.
After the interview of the Ambassador, Deputy Heads of Azerbaijani
Presidential Administration Novruz Mammadov and Ali Hasanov, Foreign
Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev and the head of the administration
Ramiz Mehtiyev had harshly criticized Ambassador Morningstar and the
U.S. as a whole. In its turn, the U.S. embassy stated, that it is not
agree with such criticism.
http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2014/05/31/robbins/
From: Baghdasarian