AzerTag, Azerbaijan
April 14 2006

AMERICAN POLITICAL ANALYSTS MARK THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT IS TO
BE THE BASIC THEME OF DISCUSSIONS DURING VISIT OF PRESIDENT ILHAM
ALIYEV TO WASHINGTON
[April 14, 2006, 22:03:20]

Forthcoming visit of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the
invitation of the US President George Bush to Washington is in the
center of attention of the American political analysts. The meeting
of presidents will take place on April 28 in the White House. The
parties will discuss such questions, as development of democracy and
cooperation on the Caucasus, power diversity, and also the teamwork
directed on expansion of freedom and safety, as common obligation of
the USA and Azerbaijan.

Though the work above the program of official visit of President
Ilham Aliyev yet has not completed, it is already known, that on
April 27 the heads of state will take part in conference on the topic
`The American-Azerbaijan strategic relations: political and economic
priorities’, devoted to the 10th anniversary of the activity of the
American-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce.

A number of authoritative political analysts on the South Caucasus in
conversation with correspondent of AzerTAc have shared views on what
they expect from the visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Washington.

The Editor-In-Chief of magazine `Central Asia-Caucasus’ S. Cornell
has told: `First of all, this visit will allow to lift the
American-Azerbaijan relations on the level reached at former
President Heydar Aliyev’s time. President Heydar Aliyev, making
frequent visits to the USA, has established very close ties with
American government. Ilham Aliyev’s visit will become a mean for
restoration of sense of trust and links of high level. As if to
concrete questions to be discussed, I consider, that the basic
question of the agenda will be Karabakh. Considering inefficiency of
the Minsk Group format, the USA now intends to show unilaterally
greater activity in settlement of the Karabakh conflict. This
tendency is completely clear.

As a whole, the USA understands strategic value of Azerbaijan, and
not only because of its geographical position, power resources of
your country but also because it is the secular Islamic state in
dangerous region of the world.

As if to the Iranian question, I should note, that the Azerbaijani
press strongly inflates this theme. Certainly, the neighborhood of
Azerbaijan with Iran is important for America. Nevertheless, I do not
think, that the Iranian theme will be in the center of attention on
discussions during visit’.

The general analyst of the Jamestown Fund Vladimir Sokor also has
shared his views: `I expect with optimism the visit of Mr. Aliyev.
This visit should take place earlier. America and Azerbaijan have
close strategic ties. Grandiose power projects of Azerbaijan would
hardly be carried out without political and economic support of the
USA. The United States are the unique force preventing hegemony of
Russia on Southern Caucasus.

I consider, that, despite of contradictions, last parliamentary
elections in Azerbaijan promoted strengthening of the
American-Azerbaijan relations. The analyses lead recently testifies
that these elections have been lead best of all the previous
elections in Azerbaijan. Washington admits this fact. Therefore,
President Ilham Aliyev has received the invitation to Washington. I
think, that present visit will make certain contribution to the
American-Azerbaijan friendly relations and will answer national
interests of Azerbaijan.

As to settlement of the Karabakh conflict, the United States clearly
wishes to take leadership in mediation. Steven Mann, working within
the Minsk Group, at the same time tries to make active intermediary
efforts of the USA with a view of achievement of direct settlement
between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The efforts, undertaken by three
co-chairmen, appear ineffectual, as Russia is not interested in
settlement of the conflict. The USA has the basic economic and
political keys. I hope, that Armenia, having shown sufficient wisdom,
will accept the USA as leader in mediation at settlement of the
conflict. I know, that Azerbaijan will not object to this. In this
case, 2006 can become successful in settlement of the Karabakh
question’.

Chairman of Central Asia-Caucasus Institute (CACI) of the Johns
Hopkins University Frederick Starr University: `Arrival of President
Ilham Aliyev in Washington is a very much good news. It will be very
successful visit. Certainly, the said visit will allow speaking
openly about Karabakh. We, the analysts, call members of the
government of the USA to lift the Karabakh question at negotiations
with the Azerbaijan party, to be more active in this. It is high time
of settlement of the conflict. The Azerbaijan territories should be
returned, and there urgently should begin regenerative process. After
this, there can be found the way out acceptable at the international
level for settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Armenians should
understand the reality. Time has come to pay attention to this
question more resolutely’.