U.S. Pushes for Economic Advantages of Peace Recognition by Armenia and Azerbaijan
Catching Up on the Southern Caucasus: Armenia, Azerbaijan, and NATO's Role
NATO's 75th anniversary summit in Washington D.C. mirrored the original alliance gathering in 1949, with Western leaders preoccupied by checking Russian expansion. Yet, off camera, the South Caucasus was abuzz with strategic developments.
On the summit's second day, United States took the lead in revitalizing the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken orchestrated dialogues between Armenia and Azerbaijani negotiators. Despite earlier promises of territory transfer and a lasting peace treaty, negotiations appeared to stall since. Blinken urged the parties to settle their remaining differences, stressing the significance of harmony in promoting regional connectivity, benefiting the entire South Caucasus region.
U.S. diplomats see the lack of a peace accord as an obstacle to realizing the potential of the East-West corridor, designed to bolster European Union commerce with the Caucasus and Central Asia. A peace treaty would curtail Russia's ability to meddle in regional politics. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien emphasized during his June visit to Baku that a durable peace agreement "will improve security cooperation with neighbors who might have adverse interests and enable the movement of goods from Central Asia through Azerbaijan and then through both Georgia and Armenia to global markets."
Blinken suggested that both sides were on the brink of finalizing a deal that the U.S. could " vehemently support." Armenia's Foreign Minister, Ararat Mirzoyan, echoed these sentiments, expressing Armenia's readiness to finalize and conclude the peace treaty with Azerbaijan at the earliest opportunity. Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister, Jeyhun Bayramov, reaffirmed Baku's commitment to the peace process without offering any updates on the discussions' status.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan voiced Turkey's intention to mediate a peace agreement, as an ally of Azerbaijan with clear interests in the outcome. "Our hearts are invested in the process; we long for the signing of the peace agreement," Erdogan stated, translating discussions he'd had with Armenia's prime minister and suggesting that some constructive steps were being taken. He did not elaborate on the specifics of the talks.
Meanwhile, NATO's summit concluded with a diplomatic setback for Georgia. Last year, Tbilisi was viewed as a likely future member of the Atlantic Alliance; however, this year's final communique effectively sidelined Georgia. The sole reference to Georgia in the document concerned NATO's call for Russian troops to withdraw from occupied Georgian territory. Mention of Georgia was absent in the section on international partnerships, which lauded Moldova for its democratic reforms and Bosnia and Herzegovina for its European integration efforts.
The final communique omitted any references to Georgia's potential NATO membership, including a lack of a Membership Action Plan, traditionally the standard pathway for aspiring states. Last year's NATO summit in Vilnius featured a dedicated section for Georgia, including a commitment to Georgia "becoming a member of the Alliance with the Membership Action Plan (MAP)."
Georgia responded to NATO's snub by downplaying the document's significance, instead focusing on the Atlantic Alliance's general commitment to accepting new members. Opposition leader Tina Bokuchava of the United National Movement criticized NATO's perceived loss of faith in Georgia's membership potential, attributing it to the "isolationist policy" of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of Georgia's ruling party.
Additional Insights:
Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Process Update
The Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process has experienced some progress, with both countries expressing a willingness to sign a peace treaty. However, several outstanding issues remain unresolved, potentially threatening the treaty's success. Key points of contention involve constitutional amendments, displaced populations, and regional tensions.
- Constitutional Amendments: Azerbaijan insists on Armenia modifying its constitution, which Armenia has acknowledged but expects to take at least another year to complete.
- Displacement and Humanitarian Concerns: The peace treaty does not address the displacement of over 100,000 ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh or provide mechanisms for transitional justice, raising concerns about the agreement's potential impact on long-term reconciliation.
- Regional Tensions: Despite the progress in negotiations, tensions persist, with both sides accusing each other of ceasefire violations and military buildup.
Enrichment Data: This section offers a more detailed update on the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process. It highlights the remaining issues that could hinder the implementation of the peace agreement and the potential benefits of a successful resolution. While the main article touches on the U.S.'s role in promoting peace, this section provides additional context regarding the key challenges the countries face in reaching a lasting settlement.
- The ongoing progress in the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process necessitates resolving several lingering issues, such as constitutional amendments, displacement problems, and regional tensions.
- Azerbaijan presses for Armenia to amend its constitution, a request Armenia has acknowledged but predicted will require a year or more to accomplish.
- The anticipated peace treaty fails to address the displacement of over 100,000 ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, and lacks mechanisms for transitional justice, sparking concern over its impact on long-term reconciliation.
- Despite the progress made in discussions, both sides continue to accuse each other of ceasefire violations and military buildup, suggesting ongoing regional tensions.
- Personal growth and mindfulness exercises may aid in fostering empathy and understanding between the two nations, potentially easing political negotiations and promoting regional harmony.
- Education-and-self-development programs could be implemented to educate citizens about the benefits of regional connectivity, bolstering support for a lasting peace treaty.
- Career-development opportunities in the realm of policy-and-legislation may attract professionals to work towards resolving remaining differences and finalizing the peace agreement.
- Skills-training could be provided to negotiators to help them navigate complex discussions, improving productivity and potentially expediting the negotiation process.
- Crime-and-justice policies should be enacted to address the humanitarian concerns of displaced populations, ensuring their safety and furthering the goal of promoting regional reconciliation.
