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US analyst: â€œThe security situation in the South Caucasus could be further exploited by militants for their own negative purposesâ€

08 February 2011 08:58 (UTC +04:00)

Washington. Isabel Levine â€“ APA. Jamsheed K. Choksy, US analyst on Central Eurasia and Middle Eastern Studies, professor of Indiana University, answered APAâ€™s Washington correspondentâ€™s questions on the regional security concern.

- All the South Caucasus countries participate in the coalition forces in Afghanistan, but terrorists are still caught on the territories of these three countries. The region is also close to Iran. How would you evaluate the security situation and anti-terrorism measures in the South Caucasus?

- The security situation in the entire region is fraught with danger and could be further exploited by militants for their own negative purposes. So all the nations there must work together, rather than in competition, to secure their borders and stabilize themselves and the region politically, economically, and socially so that militants and violent ideologies cannot endure and spread.

- Azerbaijan says that the part of its territory that is occupied by Armenian separatists, is being a hub a terrorists. Georgia says the same thing about its occupied territory. Do you think these areas need international presence?

- The issue of areas like Nagorno-Karabakh and its seven surrounding regions needs to be addressed fully -- with understanding, compromise, a spirit of goodwill, and attention to the UN Security Council -- by all parties involved for the Caucasus to achieve long-lasting stability and growth.

- The recent terrorism act in Russia’s Domodedovo airport showed that terrorists still operate in the Caucasus. What should the Caucasus region do to prevent terrorism activities there?

- Addressing internal political, economic, and societal tensions thoroughly, cooperating with each other against militancy and terrorism, and settling inter-country disputes quickly will help prevent terrorism from becoming more frequent in the Caucasus region.