CALIFORNIA HOSTS SEMINAR ON AZERBAIJAN
news.az
Nov 6 2009
Azerbaijan
Elin Suleymanov The University of South California hosted a seminar
on Azerbaijan, news service for Azerbaijan’s general consulate in
Los Angeles reports.
Robert English, professor of the international relations department of
the University of South California, and Azerbaijan’s General Consul
in Los Angeles Elin Suleymanov spoke at the seminar "The Azerbaijani
Perspective on Politics and Security in the Caucucasus".
The role of the United States and Russia in the Eurasian area, future
of regional energy projects and Armenian-Azerbaijani relations over
Nagorno Karabakh as well as Turkish-Armenian relations were a focus
of a lively discussion attended by university teachers and students.
Professor English stressed the strategic importance of the Caspian
region, as well as the differences in interpretation among analysts
as the reasons of the recent intensification of Turkey’s external
policy and possible implications of the Turkish-Armenian border. In
turn, E.Suleymanov stressed that the unsettled Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict remains the main real threat to regional security.
According to the diplomat, Azerbaijan always holds a policy aimed at
integration of the South Caucasus, yet a complete process is needed
to attain this involving resolution of conflicts and respect for
basic human rights, such as right for life and right of the displaced
persons for repatriation. He also voiced hope that the US policy will
base on the complex settlement of all problems facing the region and
not short-term symbolic steps.
Answering the questions of the participants, Suleymanov reminded that
Azerbaijan’s position relies only on its national interests both in
boosting energy security and in the overall foreign policy.