Russian analyst: Military Doctrine is Azerbaijan's warning...

In your opinion, why the United States has been active in relations with Azerbaijan lately?

The fact that the United States has been active lately is quite evident. The U.S. interest in the region was a bit weak for about half year not because that the States have lost interest in the region, but because that the U.S. had a lot of other issues to deal with like Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran. Moreover, the U.S. and the whole Euro-Atlantic world, which has impressive investment in the South Caucasus, primarily in Azerbaijan, is unlikely to let this money go away by the Caspian winds. As we know, since the end of April, Zurich protocols were shelved, which greatly upset the U.S.

In addition, the so-called "parliamentary" elections "in Nagorno-Karabakh aroused strong objection in Baku. Azerbaijan displayed harsh reaction to the “election” and those who acted there as observers... The United States was watching all these developments carefully.

This was immediately followed by the Russian Foreign Ministry statement voicing support for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and peaceful resolution to the conflict. Finally, the resolution 2216 of European Parliament on the liberation of Azerbaijan’s occupied lands did not go unnoticed, too.

Speculations that it was Azerbaijan who "prepared" this are a source of criticism, since the resolution was adopted almost unanimously. And it became clear that not only the U.S. and Russia, but the EU has clearly defined its position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

At that time Azerbaijan’s Military Doctrine, which the parliament passed a couple of days ago, was being developed. This fact also aroused interest of the United States. So, sequence of all these events prompted States to certain actions with respect to the region, in particular, Azerbaijan in a short period of time.

It is believed that Americans are mostly concerned over a strong rapprochement between Moscow and Ankara and Moscow and Baku…

Not necessarily. Relations between Russia and Turkey have been intense long ago. Trade turnover between the countries, Black Sea, etc. That is, there are a wide range of issues on which Moscow and Ankara have begun to converge very long time. The ties between Moscow and Baku also have a long history. Nowadays Moscow is a very active player in the Southern Caucasus.

In your opinion, may Azerbaijan’s recently adopted Military Doctrine pave a way for resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by force?

Each state has the right to adopt such a doctrine. Each state has every right to defend itself and its territory. Military doctrine - a warning of Azerbaijan to the conflicting parties... And I think, that the solution to the conflict is necessary. However, it must at the same time to avoid a military solution. Each state has the right to adopt such a doctrine. Each state has every right to defend itself and its territory. Military doctrine is Azerbaijan's warning to the conflicting party... And I think that the solution to the conflict is necessary. However, the parties must avoid a military solution.

In a period prior to Dmitry Medvedev’s trip to Yerevan, Armenian media reported that he will submit a new plan to bring an earliest resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to the Armenian leadership. The plan allegedly calls for liberation of three occupied regions of Azerbaijan at an early stage. What are your views on this plan?

Liberation of the occupied regions around Nagorno-Karabakh has been raised long ago. They should be freed. The order of their liberation should be determined with Azerbaijan and Armenia. Dmitry Medvedev, knowing the position of both parties may, of course, offer something. However, I believe that today there are many intermediaries involved in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution. And the problem can be solved, primarily, through direct negotiations between the two conflicting parties.


/Day.Az/