Friday, October 19 2018 18:10

ArmInfo. Turan - ArmInfo. The United States is seeking  to strengthen its strategic relations with Azerbaijan, Armenia and  Georgia, Assistant to US Secretary of State , Bureau of European and  Eurasian Affairs Wess Mitchell said in Washington on Thursday  commenting on the upcoming visit of the White House official to the  Caucasus.

The arrival of US National Security Advisor John Bolton to Baku is  expected on October 22.  Answering the question of Turan's  correspondent in Washington, what will be the topic of discussion at  the upcoming meetings in the capitals of the South Caucasus, Mitchell  said: "All three countries of the region are vulnerable and face  great pressure from Russia, in addition, Chinese economic penetration  is happening there."

" The Caucasus critical importance for energy security of the West,  ensuring the stability of this region, is a very important priority  for us," he added.

On Thursday in a speech at the Atlantic Council , Mitchell made it  clear that Western Europe will not become independent from Russia if  it supported the ''Nord Stream 2'' gas pipeline project.  Summarizing  the current US strategy for the region, Mitchell made it clear that  now "a new stage has begun for global reach."

For Washington, the return to the great energy struggle begins  through restoring the foundations of the economic power of the United  States, reinvesting in national defense.  Abroad, this means  "redistributing the burden between allies and reformatting  international institutions that no longer correspond to the strategic  reality ..."

Regarding the current US policy towards the Caucasus, the Balkans and  Eastern Europe, Mitchell said that Washington will support  sovereignty, democratic reforms, European aspirations and does not  recognize territorial claims.

"For NATO allies, our message is clear: America is firmly committed  to Article 5. For non-NATO partners ... we will support your  God-given right to national independence ... America still helps  those who help themselves in fighting for freedom, "he said.

Mitchell said that for too long the West took competition not  seriously. After the Cold War, many in the West decided that history  has ended and concepts such as geography, history and nation, no  longer matter.  "However, Russia has again become a military factor  in the region after the invasions of Georgia and Ukraine. Outside its  borders, Russia uses energy, corruption and propaganda to weaken  Western countries in order to undermine their ties with the United  States."

The current US strategy is guided by the following principles: exert  a positive influence with active diplomacy; help to make the region  invulnerable to Russia.

America will respect the national independence and sovereignty of the  allies and expects that states will respect the rights of their  neighbors.

As for democracy, Washington will use it to actively promote its  national interests, Mitchell stressed.  Speaking next, David Kramer,  a former deputy assistant secretary of state for human rights issues,  called on Washington to step up support for democratic forces in the  region. "Democracy and human rights must be central issues," he said.

Speaking about countering the Russian threat in the region, Kramer  said that the support of Russia's neighbors is "the best thing we can  do." "We need to make sure that Putin understands that we will  respond if he does something else," he stressed.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent, who recently visited  the Caucasus region, said that all countries suffer from a lack of a  reliable justice system, which is a critical component of their  democratic and economic changes.

"If there is no efficient justice to curb corruption, then there is  the possibility of influence from outside, including negative players  like Russia."

Kent also stressed the importance of independent media and civil  society as key factors in the democratic development of the region.