"U.S. - Azerbaijan relationship not to rise to its high point that was under Bush as long as Obama is in the White House"

How would you characterize the US-Azerbaijani relations now - after the last updates - when the two presidents have met?

These types of things happen all the time and, from my reading of the official statement by the White House, it was a very diplomatic meeting. The shift away from the Bush-era alliance with Azerbaijan is well-known and I wonder whether raising this point was a reflection of genuine concern on the part of the administration, or it might be a signal that it is looking for something so that it can keep the relationship relatively cool.

President Obama has stated that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be under the White House’s attention. What should be expected from Washington on this issue?

The statement by the White House is like saying that it is a ’priority’. However, when everything is a priority, nothing is a priority. Given the problems with peace-making between Armenia and Turkey, as well as the Israel-Palestinian conflict, I do not see any substantive, active diplomacy on the part of the administration on this issue. They will continue to support the Minsk Group process, but that is simply support for the status quo. The decade of a half of Minsk Group meetings will most likely continue.

What would be Azerbaijan’s role after that for the US? How do you see the future of the bilateral relations?

The Obama administration has a great deal on its plate diplomatically and it is not going all that well. The relationship between the US and Azerbaijan probably hit its high point under Bush. I do not see it rising to that level as long as Obama is in the White House.


/APA/