MAIN THING IS THAT U.S. AND RUSSIA DO NOT HARM BAKU-YEREVAN DIALOGUE BY RECKLESS MOVES: EXPERT
Today.Az
July 29 2009
Azerbaijan
Associate professor at International Relations and Foreign Policy
Department of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations
at the Russian Foreign Ministry and candidate of political science
Artem Malgin spoke in an exclusive interview with Day.Az.
Day.Az: Will Russian and U.S. leaders be able to improve or reset
bilateral ties which is expected by many around the world?
Artem Malgin: I think that, in principle, the reset will take place. It
is now necessary both for America and Russia. The recent visit of
U.S. President to Moscow revived all the directions of bilateral
cooperation including the dialogue on disarmament issues for the
first time in the last 7 to 8 years.
A mechanism for informal dialogue has also been set up. This is not
just talking of the so-called wise men but a group, which has been
tasked to formulate proposals to develop Russia-U.S. relations. Now
everything is updated and let us hope that the dialogue will be
developed. Despite the fact that the turnover of Russia with the
United States is less than 16 times than with the EU, the economic
crisis has shown that we are dependent on each other as we are part
of the global financial system.
I think that some old problems of Americanism in Russian public opinion
that have existed since the time of Kosovo have been overcome which is
also important. This is already a kind of a restart of Russia-United
States ties.
An agreement on strategic offensive arms can be described as a
preliminary result. Let’s hope that a new dialogue will be launched by
the end of the year. We know that when there is a sustained dialogue
on the START, he penetrates to other spheres as well. Unfortunately,
we do not have a central element of joint action with the United
States such economy or energy. Therefore, this role is performed by
START in relations with the United States.
Q: Do you think Obama, unlike his predecessor, will be more receptive
to the idea of joint use of Gabala radar?
A: I think that now the prospects of this idea are better. The point
is that this idea was not seriously discussed at a time of the Bush
administration. Now the idea is that you really need some common, not
even the Russian-American, but a Russian-Western system of warning
of something fantastic moves in the sphere of reality. Even if this
idea will not be realized, then some negotiation on this matter will
be held. It is clear that the elections in Iran will maintain for
another few years current tense relations of Tehran with international
community. North Korean problem also "contributes" to preservation
of the tension. A more flexible approach by the Obama administration
gives hopes for a progress in resolving existing problems.
Q: Do you think the degree of global understanding between Russia
and the United States and the Karabakh settlement is independent?
A: To be honest, I think that the Karabakh settlement already lives
its life and Russia and the United States do not play a serious
role here. Yes, once it was important for the co-chairs of the
OSCE Minsk Group to organize a dialogue and to make parties to seat
at the negotiating table. Now the ratio has changed including the
Azerbaijani-Armenian influence within the U.S. and Russia is now
conducting a balanced policy towards Baku and Yerevan. Now the main
thing is that the United States and Russia will not harm the process
by reckless moves. The process is underway and they (Russia and the
United States) should be close, not to interfere and cut off any
unwanted third-force attempts to intervene.