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US PRESIDENT HOLDS ILLOGICAL POLICY IN RELATION TO AZERBAIJAN
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Feb 16 2015
16 February 2015, 17:43 (GMT+04:00)
US President Barack Obama holds an illogical policy towards partners
and allies of the country, in particular in relation to Azerbaijan,
senior fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations at Johns
Hopkins University (US), former senior official in the State Department
and National Security Council David Merkel said.
"When the Obama Administration speaks correctly of the importance
of the territorial integrity of Ukraine but does not say the same
with regard to Azerbaijan it is easy to understand why many see that
as a double standard," he said. "Our policy going forward should be
abundantly clear on territorial integrity."
The diplomat said that the Obama Administrations lack of action to
work for a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict shows
a lack of leadership and understanding of the importance of the issue
for those displaced, those waiting for the development of the region
and the importance of the issue to the stability of the region.
"This coupled with the ill-advised and failed Russia Reset demonstrates
how little thought has been put into developing the policy for
Eurasia," he said.
The diplomat said that doing less will only encourage greater Russian
adventurism and instability.
"Unfortunately, Barak Obama has never taken the time to understand
others interests, opinions or values," Merkel said. "Unlike his
predecessors he has not developed a personal relationship with other
world leaders or learned much of their history, customs, values
or interests."
"In foreign policy he is widely thought to be the worst foreign policy
president since Jimmy Carter who was in office when our diplomats were
held as hostages in Iran and the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan,"
he said.
"In the final two years of his presidency, Barak Obama will have the
longest period of what is called in Washington a Lame Duck President,"
Merkel said. "This means that while he still holds the office no one in
Washington is looking to him to set the agenda or provide leadership."
The diplomat said that the Obama Administration also, has never
demonstrated a strategic vision for clearly laying out US interests
leaving the world surprised, disappointed or frustrated with American
action or inaction.
"President Obama's word is no longer trusted," he said. "From drawing
a red line on Syrian chemical weapons and not following through to
the shifting sand of Iranian negotiations with out keeping Congress
and our valuable allies informed leaders can not count on an assurance
from the Obama Administration."
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in
1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a
result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied
20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and
seven surrounding districts.
The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently
holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.
http://www.azernews.az/azerbaijan/77728.html
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Feb 16 2015
16 February 2015, 17:43 (GMT+04:00)
US President Barack Obama holds an illogical policy towards partners
and allies of the country, in particular in relation to Azerbaijan,
senior fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations at Johns
Hopkins University (US), former senior official in the State Department
and National Security Council David Merkel said.
"When the Obama Administration speaks correctly of the importance
of the territorial integrity of Ukraine but does not say the same
with regard to Azerbaijan it is easy to understand why many see that
as a double standard," he said. "Our policy going forward should be
abundantly clear on territorial integrity."
The diplomat said that the Obama Administrations lack of action to
work for a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict shows
a lack of leadership and understanding of the importance of the issue
for those displaced, those waiting for the development of the region
and the importance of the issue to the stability of the region.
"This coupled with the ill-advised and failed Russia Reset demonstrates
how little thought has been put into developing the policy for
Eurasia," he said.
The diplomat said that doing less will only encourage greater Russian
adventurism and instability.
"Unfortunately, Barak Obama has never taken the time to understand
others interests, opinions or values," Merkel said. "Unlike his
predecessors he has not developed a personal relationship with other
world leaders or learned much of their history, customs, values
or interests."
"In foreign policy he is widely thought to be the worst foreign policy
president since Jimmy Carter who was in office when our diplomats were
held as hostages in Iran and the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan,"
he said.
"In the final two years of his presidency, Barak Obama will have the
longest period of what is called in Washington a Lame Duck President,"
Merkel said. "This means that while he still holds the office no one in
Washington is looking to him to set the agenda or provide leadership."
The diplomat said that the Obama Administration also, has never
demonstrated a strategic vision for clearly laying out US interests
leaving the world surprised, disappointed or frustrated with American
action or inaction.
"President Obama's word is no longer trusted," he said. "From drawing
a red line on Syrian chemical weapons and not following through to
the shifting sand of Iranian negotiations with out keeping Congress
and our valuable allies informed leaders can not count on an assurance
from the Obama Administration."
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in
1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a
result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied
20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and
seven surrounding districts.
The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently
holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.
http://www.azernews.az/azerbaijan/77728.html