Interview with Dr.Stephen J.Blank, Research Professor of National Security Affairs.
Q: Can you tell us briefly about your speech delivered at the recent CSIS conference in Washington on the South Caucasus and the Caspian region? What was the main line of your speech?
A: My speech was critical of US policy in the Caucasus for not defending Georgia sufficiently and for neglecting the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis
Q: What are the main security threats in the South Caucasus to your opinion?
A: The continuing Russian occupation of Georgia, Russian rearmament of these regions, Georgia's refusal to deal seriously with the problems of Abkhaz and S. Ossetian nationalism and the danger of an unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the danger as well lies in Armenia's obduracy, Western neglect, and the misplaced notion of some Azeri officials that they can provoke a military conflict to get attention for their claims and not pay a horrible cost
Q: The role of U.S. in the South Caucasus has become more passive. Does it mean that Obama's administration don't accept this region as a national interest's zone?
A: I would not go that far but I do say that it sees the region as not that important and its role as passive because it will not challenge Russia too directly
Q: Were there any changes in US foreign policy after the Russian-Georgian war, which has clearly shown Russian plans not give up in this region to the West and try to dominate here?
A: Essentially the US accepted the results of that war and seeks to prevent further crises but has not been willing to challenge Russian dominance
Q: Georgia accepts an idea of NATO membership as an only way to assure its security. Could the same be said about Azerbaijan? Or in other words, what should Azerbaijan do to strengthen its security?
A: Make peace with Armenia and refrain from military adventures which it cannot win, reform the country and continue to do so over the long term
Q: In its latest report the International Crisis Group considers the threat of a new war for Karabakh realistic. Do you agree with ICG conclusions and what should be done to prevent a new war?
A: Yes I agree with them about the threat. The answer lies in ceasing provocative behavior, stronger commitment to negotiation and a stronger international pressure on both sides to do so.
Dr.Stephen J.Blank, Research Professor of National Security Affairs at Strategic Studies Institute of US Army War College in Pennsylvania.
Leyla Tagiyeva
News.Az
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