EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NIXON CENTER: I BELIEVE THAT THE US PRIORITIES IN ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH AZERBAIJAN HAVE NOT CHANGED
APA
Feb 9 2010
Azerbaijan
Washington. Isabel Levine – APA. Paul J. Saunders, Executive Director
of the Nixon Center in Washington believes that, the US priorities
in its relationship with Azerbaijan have not changed.
In an interview with APA’s Washington correspondent, Mr. Saunders
brought the attention to US interests in Azerbaijan. He reminded that,
Washington is deeply engaged in the regional problems, including
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, tensions between Russia and Georgia and etc.
However, according to Director of Nixon Center, sometimes US is
focused on more "problematic areas", like Afghanistan, Iraq and this
creates an impression that the States don’t care about other regions,
which is incorrect.
Mr. Saunders reminded that, in Azerbaijan US have priorities for
cooperation in the spheres of terrorism, energy security and other
issue. Meanwhile, there are believes in Washington that, without
solving Nagorno-Karabakh conflict there is no way to create long tern
plans in the region.
"This issue should be over seen not from individual but from regional
perspective. As a practical matter, Washington is sharing his targets
with regional partners. This is understandable, resources are limited
and US officials need to make decisions about their directions" –
he stressed.
American analyst also pointed out that, as far as Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict remains unresolved, the regional countries will be restricted
from their economic targets, wide scale projects, long tern stability
and international guarantee. The Russian-Georgia war showed this
problem in an open angle.
Mr. Saunders believes that, it is possible to solve the problems in
Caucasus, if all parties have a good will to do it. According to him,
parties to the conflicts must decide their problems for themselves
not expecting any influence from the outside.