Thursday, June 30 2016 08:29

NATO's interests in the South Caucasus are constant. The Alliance goal is to have stable, democratic and cooperative neighbours in this region, analyst of the Polish Institute of International Affairs Konrad Zasztowt said in an online interview with ArmInfo.

"The means to achieve this goal are changing however, they are enriched by new elements, such as in case of Georgia "substantial package" launched after the Wales NATO summit in 2014. Within the framework of this "package" new Joint Training and Evaluation Centre was opened in Georgia in August 2015," he said.

The analysts calls it obvious that the South Caucasus countries through rapprochement with the Euro-Atlantic community, NATO and the EU are becoming closer to peace and stability. "The alternative, whether it is Russia-led Eurasian integration or some kind of isolationism ("Turkmenistan model"), is at best petrifying the status quo, which means high risk of conflict resumption in the areas of "frozen" conflicts, corrupt economic and political elites, deterioration of human rights' situation, growing authoritarian tendencies," he said.

In the meantime, Konrad Zasztowt said, only stability connected to economic prosperity, free market economy, rule of law, democratic standards may convince nations like Armenia and Azerbaijan to solve the conflict peacefully. He is sure that all these necessary conditions for peace may become reality in case of further rapprochement of the region with European and Euro- Atlantic structures.

In response to the question about the prospects of lifting the blockade of the Armenian- Turkish border for cargo transportation, Konrad Zasztowt said: ќSuch scenario would be possible if Turkey and Armenia agree for it, which is not likely at the moment. NATO is not able to force any cooperation of this type without consent of the states involved in it. Moreover, Russia would oppose any deeper cooperation of Armenia with NATO by putting pressure on government in Yerevan."