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Former US ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker: I donâ€™t see any reason for Azerbaijan not to become a NATO member

01 March 2010 10:23 (UTC +04:00)

- The conflicts in the South Caucasus are still being â€œfrozenâ€ despite that the great powers including US are working on them. What do you think could help to catalyze them?

- There are a number of conflicts in the region and there are differences between those. Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is more an Armenia-Azerbaijan issue. And the other conflicts are in Georgia.

All the conflicts have their own dynamics. But I think to some degree it is important that the parts of the conflicts are directly interested and are able to actually make their own decisions and find solutions. In some cases I think Russiaâ€™s influence pulls back of some of things. Unfortunate, but I think that really is the case.

In Nagorno-Karabakh we have Minks process and I think the elements have been on the table for a long time. I would hope the Armenian-Turkey opening of relations will help Armenia be open to Europe and not the Russianâ€™s influence and that would give some confident in Nagorno-Karabakh negotiations.

- Speaking about Russiaâ€™s influence in the region, taking into consideration Russiaâ€™s policy in the region, what is the possibility of the regional countries to integrate into NATO?

- NATO has always said that first of all, it is the countryâ€™s choice. NATO is not seeking to extend. Now, it is the countryâ€™s choice whether is wishes to join NATO or not. NATO membership is available to any country which is developed and is willing to contribute to the common security.

NATO membership on the whole is about building a secure willing a better with the common security states. As for as Georgia goes there are doing well in terms of developing their institutes and economy. They have to stabilize and built their relationship with Russia.

And Azerbaijan, as well. I donâ€™t see any reason why not becoming a NATO member. It has a huge economy, and in the prospects it can become a NATO member.

- How would you characterize on the whole US-Russia relations in terms of their policy towards South Caucasus?

-I think the Obama administration thinks that it would help if they have a better relationship with Russia. I think working together on different things is good. But I donâ€™t think that Russia thinks the same. I think they are putting pressure on the neighbors. And that is the difference in the Administrations approach.

Now, I think when you specifically talk about Georgia, this country should have a very long term strategy. The Russians have broken the integrity on the territory, recognized those territories as independent states and put their military bases.

This very much reminds me of the situation with the Baltic countries. Georgia now has to take the same steps those countries did years ago â€“ work on the development on the country, development of democracy, economic situation, fight the corruption, and integrate into the global economy. And when the country is developed, it will become more attractive for the people of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.