Fikret Sadikhov: "Upon completion of Russia's military aggression against Georgians, the geopolitical, diplomatic and moral victory will be gained by US"

- US President George Bush declares initiation of the military and humanitarian mission in Georgia, which means that Georgian ports and airports will be taken under control by US troops for conduction of humanitarian and other missions. Does mean that Russia was lost to US in the geopolitical game?

- Undoubtedly, upon completion of Russia's military aggression against Georgians the geopolitical, diplomatic and moral victory will be gained by US. Russian diplomacy could not prove to the world society that Georgia carried ethnic cleansing against the South Ossetian residents, which means that Russia was not able to substantiate its actions both in the region, which is an integral part of Georgia and even in other cities of Georgia, subjected to strong attack by Russian army.

- Which will be the consequences of such inadequate use of force to Georgia for Russia?

- Certainly, pressure of the UN, Council of Europe and other international organizations on Russia, which attacked small Georgia with the whole might of a big state, will grow. US and NATO will criticise Russia most toughly, which should become a serious sign for Russia. But I do not expect any economic or other serious sanctions against Russia, as Russia is one of the main suppliers of hydrocarbons for the European state, which is among the key curbing factors in the application of any sanctions towards Russia?

- Will Georgia be admitted to NATO after the world witnessed the threat, posed by this state by Russia?

- The point is not the full membership of Georgia to NATO but a plan of actions on accession of this country to the North Atlantic Alliance. But I am sure that after events in South Ossetia, which prompted Russia's military actions in Georgia, the United States will do everything possible for Georgia's NATO accession. In other words, the firm intention of the United States to turn Georgia into a full member of NATO is much more important in this issue and US has such an intention. It means that Georgia's admission as one of the full members of NATO is a case of further perspective.

- Which conclusions should Azerbaijan draw from the events?

- First of all, the situation in the South Caucasus region, following the bloody events in the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict area, which moved inside Georgia, will long remain complicated. On the whole, it should be noted that all these events proved balanced external policy of Baku, which does not make steps, able to led to open opposition with mighty and aggressive Russia.

I want to believe that Azerbaijan will further adherent to such a balanced external policy and will initiate the return of the occupied lands of Azerbaijan, after it gets reliable diplomatic and military support of Azerbaijan's allies.

In particular, I would like very much that the United States supported Azerbaijan the same way they supported Georgia. This support will accelerate restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.

/Day.Az/