U.S. analyst: The decision of U.S. Congress will not change Washington's approach to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

The decision of the U.S. Congress to provide assistance to occupied Nagorno-Karabakh will not change Washington's approach to the conflict, Eurasian Strategy Project Director at Georgetown University Cory Welt said.

"However, such a decision makes it much more difficult for the U.S. to convince Azerbaijanis that it seeks to be an honest broker in resolving the Karabakh conflict," Welt said.

The U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate approved a bill on the general appropriations for the 2010 fiscal year, according to which assistance worth $8 million will be allocated to Nagorno-Karabakh.

Any restrictions on the implementation of programs in Karabakh have been eliminated.

Welt said the administration has little power to impact Congressional decisions. However, this decision does not change the administration's policy or approach toward the conflict.

"The U.S clearly should not provide aid to "unrecognized states," but what is new here is that the legislation allows more than just humanitarian aid to the Nagorno-Karabakh," he added.

The analyst said "if it's any consolation, many officials in the Obama administration and U.S. bureaucracy are probably also frustrated by the fact that Congressional decisions on foreign assistance can be so at odds with the aims of U.S. policy in the region."

/Trend News/