US INTELLIGENCE CHIEF SEES CHANCES FOR FRESH GARABAGH WAR

AzerNews Weekly
Feb 4 2010
Azerbaijan

The situation in the Caucasus region remains unstable, as fighting
could flare between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Upper (Nagorno)
Garabagh, the US intelligence chief was quoted by the Associated
Press as saying.

Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair said Tuesday America’s
relations with Russia could suffer as the United States seeks closer
ties with Georgia and other former Soviet states.

He said President Dmitry Medvedev’s viewing of Moscow’s former Soviet
neighbors as a "zone of privileged interests" could undermine relations
with Washington. Blair’s comments were made in a prepared testimony
for lawmakers.

Blair also commented on the process of normalizing Turkey-Armenia
relations.

"Though there has been progress in Turkish-Armenian reconciliation
over the past year, this rapprochement has had an impact on the
sensitive Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, which increases the risk of
renewed conflict in Upper Garabagh," Blair said.*