Director of European and Eurasian Studies Program: Azerbaijan is very important to USA as ally

How much Azerbaijan is important for the US as an allies and why? How could US use Azerbaijan’s potential?

Azerbaijan is very important to the US as an ally because of its strategic location (between Russia and Iran), its potential to be an anchor of stability in the volatile Caucasus region, its energy resources, and its potential to influence other countries in the region in a positive way (through exemplary peacemaking, its potential to become a model of democratic governance in a troubled part of the world, and through its diplomacy in relations with countries like Turkey, Russia, and other former Soviet states). Azerbaijan’s own actions are crucial in influencing how important it is as an ally to the US.

How do you see the perspective of Nagorno-Karabakh peace process? Do you agree with the opinion that Russia is slowing the negotiations over Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in order to have its influence on Azerbaijan and Armenia? What could be the role of US?

I am rather pessimistic that this conflict will be resolved anytime soon, though I hope I am wrong. The positions of both sides are very entrenched, and I do not see much willingness to compromise on either side, yet a solution will depend on at least one side making a major concession. I do not think that it is any Russian behavior that is responsible for blocking progress in the negotiations. It is the inability of the parties to agree that gives Russia an opening to use the conflict for its own purposes. The US under the Obama Administration is working hard to promote a settlement, but they are working in conditions of great difficulty.

- What are the perspectives of the Armenia-Turkey reapportionment? Do you see any influence of this on Nagorno-Karabakh negotiation process?

- Both Armenia and Turkey have a strong interest in normalization, but it is a difficult process because both sides face pressure from domestic opposition nationalists (and, in Armenia’s case, Diaspora communities), who raise symbolic issues or that make pragmatic compromise and reconciliation difficult. Successful Armenia-Turkish rapprochement may help build greater trust in the region, and if this leads Armenia and Armenians to feel more secure and not feel surrounded by enemies, this may encourage them to make the kind of compromises that would help facilitate a settlement so long as this willingness is also reciprocated from the others involved in the negotiations.


/APA/