Interview with Dr. Joshua Walker, Assistant Professor at the University of Richmond.
Q: What do you think about the place of the South Caucasus in the geopolitics in the post-Soviet and Caspian regions?
A: As for the South Caucasus, I find it difficult to speak about it as about one region, considering the split between the countries here and numerous problems. The South Caucasus was viewed as an arena of the geopolitical fighting of leading superpowers not at random.
Q: What can you say about Azerbaijan’s role in this region?
A: I view Azerbaijan as a complete regional leader. There is a sufficient potential for this. I, as a specialist on Turkey, consider Azerbaijan to be an important factor for implementation of the new role of Turkish policy in the region.
In addition, the energy component, the implementation of such large-scale projects as BTC and BTE are making Azerbaijan an independent player in the region. Certainly, the republic is not a superpower, but it has a sufficient potential to play its game along with superpowers.
Q: What do you think about the current state of affairs in the resolution of the Karabakh conflict?
A: If the conflict settlement is entrusted only to superpowers-the United States and Russia-it will never be settled. But I see Azerbaijan’s determination to settle this problem. Like they say in my country, “When there is a will, there is a way”.
Q: Do you think the conflict will be settled soon?
A: I do not expect the conflict settlement in the next few months, but if we speak of the long-term period, I am sure that the conflict will be solved. The current situation should not be preserved, the dynamics of regional development does not leave chances for preservation of status quo and this must force superpowers to act.
Q: What can you, as the specialist in Turkish policy, say about the effectiveness of the Baku-Ankara format in the resolution of regional problems, be it the opening of borders with Armenia or the Karabakh conflict?
A: I believe the Azerbaijani-Turkish strategic alliance has a great potential. Unfortunately, we have not seen any achievements in the resolution of these problems in the past year, but the current level of understanding of mutual problems between Baku and Ankara allows viewing the future with optimism.
I think the key issue is the opening of border with Armenia, since in case of opening the border Armenia will become dependent on Turkey. But this has not occurred and the sides continue focusing on issues of history.
Dr. Joshua Walker, Assistant Professor at the University of Richmond, postdoctoral fellow at the Crown Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Brandeis University and a fellow at the German Marshall Fund based in Washington, Founding editor of Yale Journal for International Affairs.
Aliyah Fridman
News.Az
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
