"THE CONFLICT HAS DRAGGED ON FOR TOO LONG"

David Merkel has an impressive track record in international politics. He was International Affairs Advisor in the House of Representatives in the US Senate, Deputy Assistant for International Relations at the US Treasury Department, Director for European and Eurasian Affairs in the US National Security Council and also Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. He is currently an expert at the American Johns Hopkins Centre for Transatlantic Relations.

- Azerbaijan is working successfully on diversification of the economy and the development of the non-oil sector. Meanwhile, energy continues to be the locomotive of the Azerbaijani economy, and today the western community is expecting important decisions from the republic regarding the new route for the transportation of gas from the Caspian basin to Europe. What do you think of the country's energy policy?

- Azerbaijan, under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, is demonstrating that it is the leader in the region, including in the energy sphere. The republic has taken a strategic decision on the transportation of gas to Europe. Azerbaijan is a key player in the diversification of sources of energy supplies. Energy policy has a marked impact on the prosperity of the Azerbaijani people. Generally speaking, the republic and its leader Ilham Aliyev are playing an ever increasing role in Europe and in the global energy arena.

- Energy policy is a reflection of Azerbaijan's strategic course towards integration with European and Euro-Atlantic structures. Are there grounds for expecting radical changes in the course to which Azerbaijan has adhered up to now?

- Azerbaijan is situated at the crossroads of many different regions of the world: the Middle East, Europe and Asia. The development of relations in each of these areas is paying off. It is true that Azerbaijan has committed itself to building close cooperation with the West and with the Euro-Atlantic community. Along with this, the building of positive relations with the countries situated to the East and the South is also in the republic's interests. Baku acts out of consideration for its own security and prosperity, which is the best way in developing relations with anyone.

- A new president has been elected in Iran. Do you expect an improvement in relations with the world community with the coming to power of the new Iranian leader?

- There is always hope, but in reality I don't expect big changes. In my view, for Iran the period after Ahmadinejad will be a good opportunity to start relations from scratch with other countries and to normalize relations with Azerbaijan and the majority of countries of the world community. I would hope for progress in the talks in the "5+1" format.

- What kind of place does Azerbaijan occupy in the Iranian direction of US policy?

- First of all, I think that most people are hoping for a diplomatic solution to the questions linked with Iran. This is the most probable scenario. I don't see any preconditions for a military scenario in the actions of the Obama administration. It seems to me that the US could learn a great deal from Azerbaijan regarding the region as a whole and Iran in particular. I should point out that Azerbaijan has a fine understanding of regional problems. Accordingly, I consider Azerbaijani-American relations to be very important.

- You are in favour of the US being more actively drawn into the process of a Karabakh settlement. However, so far a solution to the problem of the occupation of a part of Azerbaijani territory does not seem to be on the list of priorities of the Obama administration. In what way might Washington achieve progress in the talks on resolving the problem?

- It seems to me that the conflict has dragged on too long. We should not consider it to be perpetually frozen. There is lasting stability in Azerbaijan. It should be taken as a basis and future steps must be built on this basis. I think the only possibility for real progress in a settlement to the Nagornyy Karabakh problem is a path whereby the US seriously takes up this question, and at the highest level, too. In my view, this is what the people in Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia are also expecting. Clearly, State Secretary Kerry will be very busy with the problems of Syria, Iran and North Korea. For that reason, I and a number of other experts are in favour of the US appointing a high-ranking diplomat who can help to kick-start this question.