Asim Mollazade: "Following Russia's military aggression against Georgia, the United States and its allies will make everything possible for the soonest resolution of all frozen conflicts in the former USSR area"

- As is known, a group of local parliamentarians has recently paid a visit to the United States. Can you speak in details about the aims and results of this trip?

- The Milli Medjlis deputies visited the United States by invitation of the parliament of California. Our delegation included deputies Ganira Pashayeva, Gular Ahmedova, Fuad Muradov and me.

During the meeting in the city council of San-Francisco I familiarized the leadership of this city with the current state of US-Azerbaijani relations, speaking of problems of our region, in particular, the Russian-Georgian conflict, which threatens the tranquility in the whole South Caucasus region. We also held meetings in the Senate and House of Representatives of the California state, during which an Azerbaijani flag was raised, which I consider to be a remarkable event.

Moreover, the Council of International Affairs of San-Francisco held a conference on Azerbaijan. The development of our country after gaining independence was discussed during the conference. I made the related report on this topic, informing the Californian politicians, parliamentarians and public representatives that currently Azerbaijan is the fastest developing country of the region, attaching special importance to deepening of ties with the United States.

As our trip concurred with the military aggression of Russia against Georgia, I also informed the conference participants that the Azerbaijani territories were occupied by the same script, developed by the Kremlin and executed by the help of the Russian armed forces.

I hope that after this report the Californian establishment will become more clearly aware of the extent of threat by Russia to the whole South Caucasus region, they will realize the essence of the occupational policy of the Kremlin and become aware of the importance of the comprehensive deepening of ties between the United States and Azerbaijan, which is the most developed South Caucasus state.

Moreover, I also met with the chairman of the Committee for Foreign Affairs of the US Congress, congressman Berman. During the meeting we discussed the threat to peace in our region, posed by Russia and the threat to all strategically important energy projects.

- By the way, do people in the United States realize the degree of the threat to security in the South Caucasus region, posed by Russia?

- We have witnessed a tough reaction from the United States to Russia's occupation of a part of Georgia's territory. The United States is aware that this is not just a clash between Russia and Georgia, but the Kremlin's attempt to subdue the whole South Caucasus region. In this connection it should be noted that during one of the numerous conferences, held in the framework of our visit to California, I spoke of the origin of all the frozen conflicts in the territory of the former USSR, about Georgia's importance, as a country, transiting energy sources, which can ensure the energy security of Europe. I did not rule out that one of the tasks, facing Russia, whose economy depends on world prices on energy sources, is raising the world prices on energy sources. Russia's occupation of a part of Georgia, bombing of villages, locating in the direct proximity to the BTC pipeline speaks of the threat, posed by the current, revanchist empire Russia.

The politicians in the United States are well aware of it. This is proven by the firm position of the White House, which condemned the actions of the Kremlin and supported the territorial integrity of Georgia.

This was indirectly confirmed by the results of sociological polls, made in the threshold of presidential elections in the United States, according to which candidate from democrats Barak Obama lost his popularity rating, as his position on condemning Russia's occupation of Georgian territories was not too tough, as compared to the republican candidate John McCain.

And finally, ordinary residents of California, whom we managed to meet during the visit, voiced their support to us and stated inadmissibility of the methods, Russia currently applies.

- How great is the possibility of a new cold war between the United States and the whole world community on the one hand and Russia on the other hand?

- By its open military aggression and occupation of a part of Georgian territory, Russia has made a big step to reanimation of relations in period of cold war. The United States realizes the threat of repetition of such events, the threat to the world order, currently posed by Russia. In this connection, it should be noted that our announcements about real causes and consequences of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and about Russia, which chose the support of separatists as its policy in the Caucasus, were greeted with understanding among the Californian establishment.

I think that following Russia's armed aggression against Georgia, the United States and its allies will make everything possible for the soonest resolution of all frozen conflicts in the post-Soviet area. In this case it is not important, who will be the next US President: McCain or Obama. Both of these politicians are well acquainted with the processes, ongoing in our region and I am sure that they will do everything possible for restoration of stability in the South Caucasus, damaged by Russia's empire ambitions.

I am sure that regardless of who wins in the upcoming presidential elections in the United States, the United States and Azerbaijan will remain strategic partners.

/Day.Az/