Day.Az interviews Jason Katz, principal of the Tool Shed Group, a US-based consultancy that advises foreign governments.
How can agreements between Obama and Medvedev in Prague influence the post-Soviet area and regional problems?
The reduction of nuclear weapons stockpiles of the US and the Russian Federation is certainly a positive development. It contributes to the stability of the region, in general, and that of the entire world.
I do have, at least, some hope that this will usher in renewed US engagement in the region. Far too long has the US abdicated its Clinton-era promises and successes in the region. One large and overly ambitious power amongst many others serves the needs and interests of no one.
The reality is that the US, for the sake of NATO operations in Afghanistan and global energy diversity and security, needs to take a more Clintonian position and tack. The US will continue to ignore the region at its own peril and to its own detriment.
I will only add that I am supremely confused by the Obama Administration’s decision not to invite Azerbaijan to the proceedings in Washington DC. The snubbing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Obama’s failure to meet with Georgian President Mikail Saakashvili was also rather bizarre. It makes me wonder who the Administration perceives as friends.
The Karabakh problem was discussed during the recent visit of the Turkish prime-minister to US. What do you expect from these negotiations in this regard?
The fact that Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan has made it clear that the issues of Nagorno Karabakh and the normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia are inseparable is a sound move for all concerned. The two issues are, in fact, inextricably linked and any delinking of the issues poses the distinct possibility of destabilizing the entire region.
I believe that Prime Minster Erdogan will make the case while in the US and I am hopeful that the message will be heard. The Obama Administration seems to be coming to terms with the gravity of the issues involved. I am hopeful that we will soon see a commitment by the Administration to foster a comprehensive approach to solving the issues at hand.
It seems that there are significant differences in the Armenian Diaspora’s and Republic of Armenia’s approaches to the Karabakh problem and relations with Turkey. It’s clear, that the settlement of the Karabakh problem is good for Armenia, which is in deep crisis. So how can you explain persistence of Diaspora in this issue?
The agenda of the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora are for the most part different, as odd as that sounds. The Armenian Diaspora wants no part of rapprochement with Turkey or peace with Azerbaijan. This is a community that has, unfortunately, lost sight of the fact that they started out supporting Armenia. Now, it is preoccupied with the recognition of whatever happened a hundred years ago and destabilizing the South Caucasus by keeping Azerbaijani lands under occupation.
Clearly, normalization of relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey is a prerequisite to Armenia becoming a true independent nation. Whether the leadership of Armenia is able to broadcast it openly or not, I believe that they are coming to the realization that bringing Armenia out of the Third World and into the prosperity of the rest of the region is directly linked to rapprochement with Turkey and the return of occupied Azerbaijani territories.
What should be done to prevent negative influence of Armenian Diaspora on Armenia?
This is a process. The Armenian Diaspora has had ownership of all the issues associated with the Republic of Armenia for years. It is only recently that the issues and Armenia as a nation have come into the light, of course as a result of the increasingly robust public diplomacy program of Azerbaijan and potential normalization with Turkey.
Public diplomacy is an educational process. There are those in the US government who will never see the issues accurately, as they are tied to their voters. However, there are increasing numbers of elected officials and policy makers who are not buying the Armenian Diaspora’s narrative any longer. It takes a concerted effort by all parties to educate accurately.
/Today.Az/
