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US analysts: â€œNo matter who will be elected as president, US will continue to play an active role in the resolution of conflicts in the Caucasus â€“ EXCLUSIVE

US analysts: â€œNo matter who will be elected as president, US will continue to play an active role in the resolution of conflicts in the Caucasus â€“ <font color=red>EXCLUSIVE</font>

29 October 2012 08:08 (UTC +04:00)

Washington. Viktoria Dementyeva-APA. One neednâ€™t expect changes in the USâ€™ foreign policy, including its policy on the South Caucasus, after the presidential elections on November 6. A number of US political analysts consider that the US will continue its previous foreign policy.

â€œNo serious changes will be made in the USâ€™ policy on the South Caucasus after the elections. No matter who will be elected as president, the US will continue to play an active role in the resolution of the conflicts in the South Caucasus. As regards Mitt Romney, he is concerned over the Russian factor, therefore, I think that he will be more active in the post-Soviet countries and support the issues on disputed territories more actively,â€ managing editor of the â€œPoliticoâ€ magazine Bill Nichols told APAâ€™s correspondent in Washington.

National Public Radio (NPR) editor Ron Elving shares his opinion.
â€œOne neednâ€™t expect serious changes. Usually, if a candidate is elected for a second term, he is more active in the foreign policy issues. It is not known yet who will be appointed as Secretary of State. It may be a person, who is closely familiar with the foreign policy issues, for example John Kerry. He knows the region very well, this can have positive influence on the processes. On the other hand, if Mitt Romney, who talks tough about Moscow, is elected, it may have good influence on the countries having relations with Russia. It will give opportunities for maneuvering, reaching agreement and solving the conflicts,â€ he said.
Lee Edwards of the Heritage Foundation considers that the conflicts in the South Caucasus can be solved only discussing them with Russia that has great influence on the countries of the region.

â€œAll the issues should be discussed with Mr. Putin. Otherwise, the status quo will be protracted,â€ he said.

Touching on the main directions of the foreign policy, managing editor of the â€œPoliticoâ€ magazine considered that if Obama was reelected, he would pursue a more active policy on the settlement of the Middle East conflict and try to revive the process. Regardless of the result of the elections, the US may continue the policy of sanctions against Iran. The Romney administration will likely support the sanctions. Both parties consider that the sanctions are working and effective. I think that the first signs of Iranian governmentâ€™s readiness for 1+1 negotiations with the US show the effectiveness of these sanctions.

Senior research officer at the Brookings Institution, analyst William Galston consider that the upcoming presidential elections in the U.S. differ from the previous ones with the fact that the voters are less interested in the foreign policy issues.

â€œThe American voters are more interested in the economic situation in the country. According to the results of polls, Americans are more interested in the issues on economic development and job growth, this is followed by healthcare, foreign policy issues are in the third place,â€ he said.