HistoryofTruth.com - Armenian Allegations

Nikolay Zlobin, US Center for Defense Information (CDI), Senior Fellow and Director of Russian and Eurasian Programs, spoke in an exclusive interview with APA.

Q: Would Russia and the US focus Gabala radar again?

A: Currently the United States tries to find solution to the questions of missile defense system in the Eastern Europe. Its financial opportunities, political and military needs are on agenda now. They will begin to search alternatives if they don't accept the issue univocally like Bush administration. Only then the Gabala radar could be reviewed as the most effective alternative. It will demand first of all review of missile defense inside the US. I consider the new approach by the Congress, which is funding the project, and Pentagon, which is managing military-technical calculations. If it takes place they will search for alternatives. The main question is that how does the American community intend to share national defense issues with other countries. The Americans are very sensitive in such issues. US public opinion's essence is that only the US is responsible for its security and it couldn't be share with anyone even with close allies. May be such narrow-minded approach was over. Many people think that the US can't protect its position and national interests without global security system. Undoubtedly the Gabala radar could be main alternative as a facility located in the necessary geography. As I know US defense official have positive opinion about use of Gabala radar.

Q: The US and Russian presidents focused their attention on Iran during the negotiations in Moscow. Has Azerbaijan, as a neighbor of Iran, to pay attention to these negotiations?

A: I consider that it has to pay attention. US-Russia rapprochement will make the developments in the region more predictable. If the two countries have very different positions, Washington will not influence on Israel, which is always ready to strike on Iran. I consider that the developments over the past two months were positive, which means that Russia began to change its position and became closer to the United States. But it is not enough. There is serious discord between the US and Russia on Iran. There were serious tensions between Washington and Moscow after the presidential elections in Iran. It gives additional superiority to the US and creates little guarantee for the stability in the region. If there is no agreement, it can lead to the war, which will destroy sensitive security system in the region and cause flow of refuges to Afghanistan and Azerbaijan. Therefore the neighbor countries, how it can be undesirable, depend on the US-Russian negotiations on Iran.

Q: What do you think about the possible solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict by the joint efforts of the United States and Russia?

A: The positions of Russia and the US coincide in one point — it is not our problem and we can't do anything. Any outside interference in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict can cause instability only. The positions of the two large countries coincide in the negative point. Both Russia and the US have a passive position on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. They have no priorities and don't intend to be involved in the conflict. I don't consider that both countries want reversal of the current situation.