Clinton's Armenia visit as part of struggle for South Caucasus

Clinton's Armenia visit as part of struggle for South Caucasus

by Susann Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Armenia within the framework of her regional visit on June 4. She met Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and other high-ranking officials. Some of the main topics were regional security and democracy. Hillary Clinton met Armenian public officials and attended the ceremony of awards for human rights activists.

 

Clinton emphasized positive achievements in strengthening of democratic institutions, clarity, promotion of freedom of press, prevention of corruption, protection of rights and freedoms.

 

She expressed satisfaction with the parliamentary elections in Armenia. Clinton praised the steps for improvement of Armenian economy. She said that President Obama values contacts with Serzh Sargsyan.

 

Regarding settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Clinton emphasized that the conflict cannot be resolved through use of force. Concernin Armenian-Turkish relations, she stressed that the US assist in ratification of Armenian-Turkish protocols without preconditions. Clinton noted that Turkey has the initiative in relations with Armenia.

 

Some Armenian experts say that the state secretary’s visit is notable, because it is her second regional tour through South Caucasus in the last two years. This demonstrates US interest in the region, topical political affairs and security problems of the Caucasus, including tensions around Nagorno-Karabakh.

 

Alexander Markarov, Director of the Armenian branch of the CIS Institute, believes that the visit shows high level of Armenian-US relations and that South Caucasus, though not the number one priority of Washington, is still an essential part of US interests.

 

About 10 days before the visit of Hillary Clinton, the State Department published another report on human rights for 2011, containing some critical remarks towards Armenia. The report says that Armenia, and especially its television, still lacks political pluralism of opinions and impartiality of broadcasting. Armenian authorities decriminalized the article on slander, but the fines set are too high and false journalists to use self-censorship. The process of switch to digital television reduced pluralism in media. Courts are still pressurized by the executive branch of power. Judges are often forced to account guilt. Employers make mass violations of workers’ rights by avoiding signing of labour contracts. The State Department mentions violation of the right for switch of power through elections.

 

Clinton gave a positive evaluation of elections. She called the parliamentary polls on May 6 competitive and open.

 

One the one hand, the State Department criticizes the electoral processes, but on the other, the department’s chief gives a positive rating. The US continue political support of Armenian authorities. Levon Ter-Petrosyan, leader of the Armenian National Congress, a coalition of opposition, said at a protest meeting that the doubtful elections of May 6 affect such foreign political problems as settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the Armenian-Turkish process. Former President of Armenia Ter-Petrosyan points out that foreign forces, especially the West, would make use of the fact that the president has the majority at the parliament.

 

The West is trying to use these issues for own geopolitical purposes, to weaken and push away Russia. The US have strengthened its position in the South Caucasus in the last 20 years. Stepan Safaryan, a member of the Heritage Party, said: “Clinton’s visit has emphasized again that the US are very serious about westernization of the region. The US and Russia are having a silent struggle in the region, including Armenia, in the last years”.

 

Settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the main topic in this aspect. Normalization of Armenian-Turkish ties would weaken Russia in the region. Turkish authorities say that the Armenian-Turkish protocols are not frozen and continue negotiations between the two states through NGOs. The path the protocols signed in October 2009 have went through gives major doubts over realization of the project in the near future.

 

 

 

 

 

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