Biden administration should increase attention to Azerbaijan - American experts

Baku / 18.12.20 / Turan: “Azerbaijani-American relations: elections and processes after the Second Karabakh War”, this was the topic of the webinar organized by the Center for Analysis of International Relations (CIRA) and the Caspian Political Center (CPC).

Opening the event, the executive director of the organization, Efgan Nifti, noted that he attaches great importance to the study of American-Azerbaijani relations, including the Caspian Sea basin. In this regard, it is important to study the changes in the US administration, as well as the US-Azerbaijani relations in the context of the armed conflict in Karabakh.

The head of CIRA, Farid Shafiyev, said that after the Second Karabakh war and the restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, a new geopolitical reality emerged in the region.

Referring to the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group, Shafiev called its work "formal".

Robert Cekuta, head of economic and energy programs at the CPC and former US ambassador to Azerbaijan, said that the United States traditionally prioritizes security, energy and economic relations, as well as the rule of law and human rights as a priority in relations with Baku. He noted that the Donald Trump administration was not active in the region.

 “Taking into account the geographical position, Azerbaijan plays a special role in the region. In particular, the proximity of Russia and Iran should always be considered. Azerbaijan has also become an important center connecting Europe and Asia,” Cekuta said.

He stressed that the recent events in Karabakh have dramatically changed the situation in the region, but the United States has not played any role in this process.

In his opinion, the new US administration in the coming years may revise its policy in the region. The United States can promote peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, he added.

Richard Morningstar, director of the Atlantic Council's Global Energy Center and a former US ambassador to Azerbaijan, expressed hope that the Biden administration would be more involved in Azerbaijan and regional processes in general. According to him, during the Karabakh war, Azerbaijan has achieved great success and after years managed to liberate a significant part of its territory. He expressed the wish for a final settlement of the conflict, which meets the interests of all countries, including Armenia.

Luke Coffey, director of the Ellison Center for Foreign Policy Research at the Heritage Foundation, made a number of proposals regarding the future of US-Azerbaijan relations. More US officials should visit Azerbaijan during the new administration, he said.

 He also stressed the importance of opening a US consulate in Ganja, the second largest city in Azerbaijan, located near the conflict zone and Georgia. According to him, this will allow the United States to understand the situation. He also said that the United States should step up its efforts to bring Armenia and Azerbaijan closer together.

Svante Cornell, director of the Institute of Central Asia and the Caucasus and the Joint Center for the Silk Road Research Program, said that on paper, the US and Azerbaijan are very close partners, but this is not the case. He is not sure the situation will change anytime soon. According to him, US-Azerbaijani relations reached the worst level during the Obama administration, and officials from the Obama administration, who held a negative stance towards Azerbaijan, played a large role in this. “The role of the Armenian diaspora in the United States is also significant. But I think that this approach needs to be changed and the US needs to take a more realistic position,” said Cornell. He expressed hope that the strategy for Central Asia, adopted during the Trump presidency, will be continued, while noting the important role of Azerbaijan in this strategy.

Referring to the results of the Karabakh war, Cornell noted, "Azerbaijan has achieved these successes as a result of planned priorities and economic development." “We see this approach both in war and in domestic and foreign policy. The US should take that into account," Cornell said. 06D-