ArmInfo. Carey Cavanaugh, Professor of Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution, University of Kentucky, former US Co-Chair of OSCE Minsk Group thinks that the Trump administration should promote preventive measures to help avoid violence, deter military action, and engender support for peaceful resolution of Karabakh conflict.
In his article published on the website of the US Council on Foreign Relations, Carey Cavanaugh notes that after the April 2016 events "the United States, Russia, and France-co-chairs of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group responsible for mediating the conflict- used diplomacy to halt the violence. They have been unable, however, to revitalize the peace process". "Azerbaijan is most likely to use military force to bring the issue to a head and ultimately seek to change the status quo. Since 2006, the country has been on an armaments shopping spree, spending over $22 billion to acquire a formidable arsenal of modern military equipment that Armenia cannot match," he says, adding that "The Armenians also have long stated that if they are attacked, Azerbaijan's energy sector would be an immediate military objective". "Detectable signs of escalating tensions could include unusual Azerbaijani military movements and other preparations in anticipation of offensive operations. In contrast, Armenian threats to strike Azerbaijan's energy sector would require less visible preparation," Cavanaugh stresses.
At the same time, the expert thinks that the United States could employ a combination of measures to prevent further escalation should significant hostilities break out over Nagorno-Karabakh. "The United States could promote a UN Security Council resolution condemning any major military action. A secondary option, if known, would be to name the instigator. Working with partners, the United States would penalize the party that initiates any major escalation-through public condemnation and potentially by withdrawing economic assistance or using sanctions," he says.
Cavanaugh also emphasizes that the Trump administration should pay careful attention to developments related to Nagorno-Karabakh "and act quickly to promote preventive measures to help avoid violence, deter military action, and engender support for this conflict's peaceful resolution".
To note, Professor Carey Cavanaugh was Ambassador/Special Negotiator responsible for conflicts in Eurasia and concurrently U.S. Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group in 1999-2001. To recall, on Feb 25 night the Azeri armed forces attempted to mount attacks on the southeastern (Martuni) and eastern (Akna) sections of the line of contact with the Artsakh troops by using special equipment and devices for demining. Due to the video surveillance devices, the forward detachments of the Defense Army of Artsakh fixed the advancement of the Azeri troops in both directions and made the adversary retreat. The latter retreated, suffering losses. At least two Azeri servicemen were wounded and the bodies of several Azeri servicemen are in the neutral zone. The Artsakh side suffered no losses.