THE TIME-OUT IS OVER

The USA has apparently ended the time-out taken by the Obama administration to reconsider its policy on the South Caucasus, and on Azerbaijan in particular. The US and Azerbaijani presidents met in New York on 24 September, on the sidelines of the 65th session of the UN General Assembly. The meeting was the logical outcome of visits to Baku by US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

According to official reports, Barack Obama and Ilham Aliyev discussed all issues of mutual interest. They voiced satisfaction with the successful development of bilateral relations in various spheres, based on principles of strategic partnership.

The US president noted Ilham Aliyev's leading role and stressed that Azerbaijan was one of the most influential countries in the region and had achieved the greatest success.

The two sides stressed the high level of political ties between the two countries and the importance of cooperation in the spheres of economy, energy and security towards strengthening cooperation within the region.

They spoke about the joint efforts by Azerbaijan and the US in carrying out international counterterrorist operations. The White House said that President Obama had praised Azerbaijan for supporting the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. He also stressed Azerbaijan's contribution to the expansion of international energy cooperation.

Discussing the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, the presidents said that a speedy resolution of the conflict would ensure peace and stability in the region. 

They voiced a desire to develop closer ties between the two countries.

Thus, one can say that bilateral US-Azerbaijani relations are gaining a new dynamic, due to a number of circumstances.

First, the USA needs stable transit to Afghanistan through Azerbaijan. Second, the White House needs Azerbaijan's support on the question of Iran's nuclear programme. Third, Washington is not indifferent to the energy security of its European partners, and the role that Azerbaijan plays in ensuring this security is growing. Meanwhile, the US position on the Karabakh conflict settlement is the most important one for Baku.

To all appearances, the White House has begun to understand that its position has weakened slightly against a background of efforts by Moscow towards conflict settlement, in particular the numerous meetings of the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders organized personally by President Dmitriy Medvedev. Together with Washington's decision to allocate financial aid to the separatists in Nagornyy Karabakh and US lobbying for the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border, this could not but tell on relations with Baku.

The Azerbaijani president has made it clear on many occasions that until the Karabakh conflict is settled, one should not expect favours from the country on various regional issues. And positive directions should not be expected in these processes if Baku is not involved.

That was confirmed by President Obama's remarks that Azerbaijan is one of the most influential countries in the region and has achieved the greatest success. Further evidence is provided by the visits of the Turkish, Russian, Georgian and Romanian presidents to Azerbaijan over the past month; President Aliyev's visit to the US, where he addressed the UN General Assembly and held a fruitful meeting with President Obama, and his visit to Uzbekistan where he signed a number of documents on cooperation between the two countries.

Baku's intensive involvement in regional and global integration processes and its efforts to create a modern transport system and increase its role in ensuring European energy security have expanded the country's potential.

For example, the start-up of the Аzerbaijan-Georgia-Romania Interconnector" (AGRI) project to transport liquefied gas to Europe has opened a new phase in energy cooperation between Caspian region countries and the EU. Expanded energy cooperation with Moscow has made Azerbaijan an important source of ensuring the energy security of southern Russia.

On the other hand, Azerbaijan is a natural bridge between Europe and Asia. It was not by chance that Aliyev and Obama discussed joint activity on international counterterrorist operations. There is no doubt that the USA has other means of maintaining its mission in Afghanistan, but Washington needs a reliable alternative route. That route goes through Azerbaijan, which is an indispensable transport route for the coalition force.

The talks between Presidents Obama and Aliyev raise hopes that the US administration will be able to overcome pressure from the Armenian lobby and pursue US interests. This hope is based on voting in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that confirmed - with only two dissenters - Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza as US ambassador to Azerbaijan. 

The Washington Post criticized Senators Barbara Boxer and Robert Menendez for voting against Bryza's appointment as US ambassador to Azerbaijan, saying they risk national interests. "If the ANCA succeeds in blocking the nomination of a competent US ambassador to Azerbaijan, it will only lessen US influence in the Caucasus and make war more likely. In advancing such interests, Ms. Boxer and Mr. Menendez disgrace themselves", the paper said.

Thus, advantageous geographical location, rich energy resources, strong political will and diversified policy make Azerbaijan more independent in building peer relations with foreign partners. "In its relations with the USA, Azerbaijan has recently entered a different league, achieving greater independence from foreign players," said Nikolai Zlobin, director of Russian and Asian programmes at the World Security Institute.