Former UN envoy: U.S. won’t try to solve post-Soviet conflicts
A former US ambassador to the United Nations has
claimed the United States will take no action to move forward
settlement to the "frozen" conflicts in the former Soviet
republics, Azerbaijani media reported.
Addressing the American Enterprise Institute, John Bolton attempted to provide his peculiar view on the way Washington views these disputes.
"If you look at Barack Obama’s policy towards Russia so far, you will realize that the U.S. will not make an effort to resolve frozen conflicts. The Americans will not seek ways of settling conflicts that are in the Russian sphere of influence. I know it sounds odd, but I think this is the case."
Several territorial conflicts remain unresolved in the territory of the former USSR. The longest one is the conflict between two South Caucasus countries. It began in 1988 due to Armenia’s territorial claims against Azerbaijan. About 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory, including Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh and seven adjacent regions, are under the occupation of the Armenian armed forces.
Another territorial dispute is the conflict between Georgia and two Georgian republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Bolton is also cautiously optimistic about Armenia and Turkey’s efforts to establish diplomatic relations.
"It’s a positive event, but I wouldn't overstate its potential implications. It is a good thing to forge ties with a country after so many years [of differences], but I wouldn't overstate it that much. Of course, it's symbolic," Bolton said.
Turkish and Armenian Foreign Ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Eduard Nalbandian signed the Ankara-Yerevan protocols in Zurich Oct. 10, in a bid to embark on a normalization process between the two estranged countries.
Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey were severed due to Armenian claims on an alleged 1915 genocide and its occupation of Azerbaijani lands. Their border closed in 1993.
The analyst also said renewing US-Russian relations affects other post-Soviet countries, including Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Bolton added that the steps the Obama administration has taken were trying to mollify Russia, but challenges remain, as bilateral relations remain difficult.*
Addressing the American Enterprise Institute, John Bolton attempted to provide his peculiar view on the way Washington views these disputes.
"If you look at Barack Obama’s policy towards Russia so far, you will realize that the U.S. will not make an effort to resolve frozen conflicts. The Americans will not seek ways of settling conflicts that are in the Russian sphere of influence. I know it sounds odd, but I think this is the case."
Several territorial conflicts remain unresolved in the territory of the former USSR. The longest one is the conflict between two South Caucasus countries. It began in 1988 due to Armenia’s territorial claims against Azerbaijan. About 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory, including Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh and seven adjacent regions, are under the occupation of the Armenian armed forces.
Another territorial dispute is the conflict between Georgia and two Georgian republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Bolton is also cautiously optimistic about Armenia and Turkey’s efforts to establish diplomatic relations.
"It’s a positive event, but I wouldn't overstate its potential implications. It is a good thing to forge ties with a country after so many years [of differences], but I wouldn't overstate it that much. Of course, it's symbolic," Bolton said.
Turkish and Armenian Foreign Ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Eduard Nalbandian signed the Ankara-Yerevan protocols in Zurich Oct. 10, in a bid to embark on a normalization process between the two estranged countries.
Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey were severed due to Armenian claims on an alleged 1915 genocide and its occupation of Azerbaijani lands. Their border closed in 1993.
The analyst also said renewing US-Russian relations affects other post-Soviet countries, including Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Bolton added that the steps the Obama administration has taken were trying to mollify Russia, but challenges remain, as bilateral relations remain difficult.*
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