Today.Az » Politics » 'Caucasus remains a complicated tangle of security concerns'
23 August 2012 [11:45] - Today.Az
A bimonthly American magazine of politics, economics, and ideas,
Foreign Policy, has published a report titled "Security and Conflict in
the Caucasus region, not frozen” by the Head of the Armed Forces of the
United States in Europe, Gen. Mark Hertling.
The report says that “The Caucasus -- that historical causeway of
conflict between Europe and the Middle East -- remains a complicated
tangle of security concerns. Ethnic tensions still affect long standing
territorial disputes, internally displaced indigenous people align with
or oppose powerful diasporas, and an increasing nouveau riche -- an
oil-fueled minority upper class -- is growing in an area once known only
for desperate poverty.”
Concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Hertling writes that “while
the Minsk Group spearheads the OSCE's efforts to find a political
solution to the conflict in and around Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia and
Azerbaijan both remain frustrated with the lack of political resolve.”
“European Command's strategy of Theater Security Cooperation -- and
USAREUR's contribution as part of that strategy in training and
exercising with the militaries and engaging with military and political
leaders -- is bearing significant results. The four nations (Georgia,
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey) that make up "the GAAT" are integrating
forces in NATO out of theatre and peacekeeping operations in places like
Afghanistan and Kosovo, and the potential for peaceful management of
the region's substantial security challenges is improving,” the author
says.
“Having seen the potential for conflict, and the continued methods of
resolving conflict, I am excited about the future of security and
conflict resolution in the Caucuses… Each country is, in different
capacities, building a base of military professionalism and reform, and
is ensuring a more peaceful security for their nations.
The Caucasus' position as a geographical, cultural, and political
epicenter means that movements -positive and negative -- in Georgia,
Armenia, and Azerbaijan reverberate well beyond the local region. With
America's continued support, the Caucuses will remain a source of
stable, reliable, interoperable partners who are the foundation of
future regional and global security,” according to report.
Lieutenant General Mark Hertling is the current Commanding General, U.S.
Army Europe and Seventh Army, where he is responsible for training U.S.
Army Soldiers and units for Contingency and Full Spectrum Operations,
enhancing Theater Security Cooperation, and Building Partner Capacity
with 51 allied nations that are part of the European area of operation.
Prior to this posting, he served as the DCG for Initial Military
Training at TRADOC and previous to that the Commander of the 1st Armored
Division, where the unit was deployed to Northern Iraq as Task Force
Iron.
/AzerTAc/
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