POLITICS
AMERICAN ANALYSTS URGE OFFICIAL WASHINGTON TO BE ATTENTIVE IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS POLICY
Washington, February 24 (AZERTAC). The Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington conducted a conference devoted to interests of the USA in the South Caucasus region.
During discussions on the situation in region from the point of view of security and energy cooperation, the conferees focused on the unresolved conflicts on South Caucasus, collision of the interests of regional authorities, and also the energy security. Famous scientists on Eurasia, including the general analyst of the Heritage Foundation Ariel Kohen, the general analyst of Jamestown Foundation Vladimir Socor, professor of the USA Military College Steven Blank, the employee of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Thomas de Waal have underlined that, contrary to interest of foreign policy of the USA in the South Caucasus region, last years official Washington`s attention weakened to this region. And it, in turn, let other interested regional forces to penetrate to the South Caucasus. According to analysts, the government of President Barack Obama should reconsider the foreign policy pursued on South Caucasus and in the Caspian basin, put forward a new strategic idea, and raise authority in region.
Representative of the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy Fariz Ismailzade and Azerbaijan`s consul general in Los Angeles Elin Suleymanov noted the position of Azerbaijan, saying that despite the complexity in the South Caucasus region, Azerbaijan is hopeful. “We are for friendship with all neighboring states. But, despite it, realities show that the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the most basic obstacle in establishment of peace and cooperation in region”.
At the conference, deputy vice-president of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) Vitaly Beylarbayov reported on the role of Azerbaijan as producer of oil and gas in energy security, and also on the energy projects having important strategic value for Azerbaijan, and the modern Silk Road connecting the European Union with the East.
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