Interview with Neil MacFarlane, head of the Department of Politics and International Relations at Oxford University.
Q: What are your impressions of the recent visit of H.Clinton to post-soviet republics?
A: I am only familiar with the Georgian part. It was a well prepared and well handled visit. The US maintained its usual balance between solidarity with Georgia, and endorsement of Georgia's political direction, but also polite statements about the need for further progress and to remain faithful to the democratic and liberal agenda. I suspect the private conversations were more pointed.
Q: What can you say about the opinion that the real purpose of this visit was to show that former USSR space is still in the US interest?
A: I think that is part of it but it is also a result of us domestic politics - to reassure domestic constituencies (often republican) that the US government has not lost interest and to deflect possible criticism for having abandoned America’s friend in the FSU.
Q: Do you think that US is really able to compete with Russia for post-soviet space?
A: Depends what you mean - economically yes, militarily no. political influence is somewhere between the two.
Q: Can US promote membership of Azerbaijan and Georgia to NATO to make these republics more distant from Russia despite of unresolved conflicts on their territories?
A: They could try but in current circumstances it is extremely unlikely that either state would be admitted to membership in NATO. It's not only about unresolved conflicts (although these are important. It's also about governance questions. And it's also about Russia.
Q: Secretary Clinton said in Baku and Yerevan about US intention to intensify its efforts to solve the Karabakh problem. How sincere is she, to your mind?
A: I would be very surprised if there were major new US efforts to resolve the conflict. It is very sensitive in US domestic politics, and besides, I don't think the US has the necessary leverage over the parties.
Q: What can you say about the opinion that US as well as Russia are interested in keeping Karabakh conflict frozen to preserve influence on Azerbaijan and Armenia?
A: I don't think that opinion is correct. Both the US and Russia would prefer the conflict to be solved. The obstacles to resolution are principally local.
Lala B.
News.Az
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