AZERBAIJANI ANALYST TALKS OF RUSSIAN OPPOSITION TO SOUTH CAUCASUS ENERGY CORRIDOR

The Messenger, Georgia
Aug 14 2007

Russia currently tolerates the strengthening of the South Caucasus
as an energy corridor, but the issue is likely to inspire serious
confrontation in the region at some point, according to Azerbaijani
political analyst Vafa Guluzade.

Guluzade suggested that the US has encroached on Russia’s former sphere
of influence in Eastern Europe, Ukraine and the Baltic republics,
and is now turning its attention to the Caucasus.

"I think that this goal will be reached," Guluzade said, according
to the news agency Regnum.

The political analyst is sure that Russia is unhappy at the development
of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum pipelines.

Guluzade also stated that Moscow perceives the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict as a potential time bomb. Azerbaijan should realize that
the conflict is not with Armenia but with Russia, he urged, implying
Armenia is a proxy of Russia in the region.

Guluzade, a former Baku official, warns the Azerbaijani leadership
to be ready for any sort of aggression, and recommends developing
the country’s defense capability.