Today.Az, Azerbaijan
July 18 2009
Azerbaijan-Russia gas deal mainly attributable to Russia’s defense
policy against European Union: German expert
18 July 2009 [11:36] – Today.Az
Alexander Rahr, expert at the German Council on Foreign Relations,
spoke in an exclusive interview with Day.Az.
Day.Az: There is an opinion that the gas deal signed between
Azerbaijan and Russia could not prevent Azerbaijan from participating
in Nabucco, because Russia itself may become a party to the project
…
Alexander Rahr: I think that we live at a time where issues of energy
supply and energy security are dealt with lightning speed and
prematurely. I think that the deal between Azerbaijan and Russia is
mainly related to the defensive policy of Russia against the European
Union. Russia is somehow losing its influence in Central Asia and
therefore it aims to prevent the construction of Nabucco.
Russia creates certain facts for itself in the energy field and some
barriers to Europeans who are moving towards the Caspian Sea bypassing
Russia. I would describe it this way because for Russia this
transaction is very valuable and no one knows what will be the price a
few months later given the fact that what problems Turkmenistan
faced. The similar problems may appear with Azerbaijan over time. I
think that Russia now acts in a very adult way and consciously to
prevent the growing influence of Western energy companies, especially
Western policy on the Caspian coast.
Q: Dou you think Russia and the United States will decide to jointly
use the Gabala Radar?
A: I don’t have information in this respect. This idea is certainly
worth to think about more. Such decisions are not made quickly. The
very idea, of course, is good and which is not so much connected with
the radar, but with Russia’s attempt to prove to Americans that
control over Iran can be done together. I do not exclude also that a
similar radar could be deployed somewhere in southern Russia or
Central Asia.
Q: Is it worth to expect the Moscow meeting between Azerbaijani and
Armenia presidents to mark any progress and agreements on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
A: The negotiations have been held for a long time. Frankly, I do not
see yet any dramatic shifts in one direction or another.
Q: Do you see a military solution of the conflict?
A: From Armenia’s viewpoint, I do not see any targets for military
action and this is the same case with Azerbaijan. We need to wait and
see development of world politics and impact of NATO in the region. I
do not think that this problem will be solved by military means.
/Day.Az/
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