YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)’sIn an interview with Voice of Armenia’shead of the information desk of Radio Liberty’sPaul Goble’scommented on the upcoming debate over the abolishment of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act to be discussed in the US Congress later this month.
"I think that Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act had a limited influence on US possibilities of maintaining balance in the Caucasus with the assistance of Armenia’s and Azeris in seeking a solution which would allow the two nations to live in peace. It is essential that very good relations be maintained between the two sides’sBaku and Yerevan.
"I think that Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act has at least three solutions. First’sshould it have been adopted or not? I am inclined to think that there are many conclusive reasons to presume that Section 907 didn’t serve the aim for which it had initially been designed. Second’sthere is another serious problem. What can the abolishment of Section 907 imply for the policy being pursued in the Caucasus and future peace in the region? Third’sthe advocates for the abolishment of this section forget that the United States and’sI think’sthe American people have three interests in the region. First’swe really have economic interests in the Caucasus’sas a result of which oil companies are seeking the liquidation of Section 907. Second’swe have a political interest here as well’swhich is even more important. This is the establishment of democracy in the region’s countries and wider rights and freedoms for their peoples. Third’swe have a geopolitical interest’sto make sure that the Caucasus becomes a real bridge between the West and the East; to ensure the dissemination of American and Western values in countries of the East.
"Therefore’sthe discussion of US behavior in the region must not be restricted to such a simple question as whether to abolish or preserve Section 907’sand this issue should be regarded in a broader sense’show can we pursue all three interests in the Caucasus simultaneously?"
Commenting on the Karabakh conflict resolution process’sGoble said’s"I would like to see a solution to the problem on the part of the co-chairmen which would meet the interests and rights of all nations of the region. I know that there are many in Armenia who share the opinion that borders must be altered’sor the issue must be’sat least’sdiscussed’ssince the borders between Azerbaijan and Armenia were set by the Soviet Union’swhich thereby programmed a constant animosity between the two nations.
"I think that one of the ways of solving this problem is the possible alteration of borders. The current situation in the Caucasus implies that either talks on this issue will be held or the establishment of stability allowing the Armenia’s and the Azeris to live side by side in peace and cooperation will be postponed for a long time. I think that it is a very serious political problem and that the Caucasus may become’sperhaps’sthe world’s most important region for its impact on the future of our and these peoples."