Mr. Mollazade began the interview with James Baker by reflecting on the breakup of the Soviet Union. Mr. Baker noted that the collapse was not surprising in nature. Rather. the breakup was imminent in conception. but not necessarily in time. "I think the breakup of the Soviet Union is something that people understood could happen, but I believe the rapidity by which it occurred-the quickness by which it occurred-was something that surprised a lot of people, including the people within the former Soviet Union," Mr. Baker recalled. He applauded the Bush Administration's strong support for Gorbachev and their confidence in the efforts of advocates of glasnost and perestroika, including reformers like President Yeltsin. The Administration's support of these reforms and their unending support for Gorbachev-as long as progress towards reform took place-was important for the further development of strong political ties between our two countries.
Immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Mr. Baker traveled to the Transcaucasus and Central Asia to establish embassies in these newly formed independent states. Mr. Baker recalled the political importance of this trip notig the establishment of embassies in these newly formed independent states as a sign of U.S support for their independence and statehood. "We believe it is important that reform towards democracy and free markets take place and it is also important that the United States makes it clear that it sup ports the territorial integrity of these countries. and the independence of these states."
Mr. Mollazade asked Mr. Baker to share his impressions about the states In the Caspian Basin, the Transcaucasus, and Central Asia. Mr. Baker noted a common drive for independence among these republics which linked them to each other prior to the events of December 1991. Currently, each state in this region has its own cultural and territorial integrity, and many differences prevail among these states. complicating an evolving regional unification. Mr. Baker made it clear, however, that the U.S. should support not just reform in these new states, but support their independence as well.
Discussion then moved to the vast unexploded resources in the
Caspian Basin, including the vast oil and gas reserves to be found in Azerbaijan,
Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan. Mr. Mollazade noted the progress by the international
oil consortium to exploit these resources, referring to the recent signing
of an eight billion dollar contract by the government of Azerbaijan
and an international consortium of leading oil companies. Mr. Baker
discussed the strategic role of the U.S. oil companies-which maintain a
majority of oil shares in this consortium - and the extent to which the
U.S. government is involved in support of this endeavors. " It is important
to solve the question of marketing and transportation of oil....and
this will he a supplemental source of energy for the United States
and the other countries in the West." Mr. Baker commented favorably
on the Bush and Clinton Administrations' continual support of American
companies operating in the Caspian Basin. and applauded their
efforts to generate mutual trade benefits with these countries to
facilitate the problems surrounding marketing and transportation of
oil in this region.
James Baker then discussed the geopolitics of the Transcaucasus and
Central Asia, noting that the original powers - Russia, Iran, and
Turkey-continue to play an active role in the region due to their geopolitical
and geostrategic complexity. Asking him to comment on Russia's imperialistic
ambitions to control the energy sources and to increase its military
presence in the region, Mr. Baker stressed the transportation of oil from
the region to be an issue of geopolitics and not necessarily an issue of
economics or engineering: "This oil is not going to get to market
except through the crafting of a geopolitical solution that somehow
satisfies most of the aims and goals of some of the countries in
the region that are affected namely, Russia, and Turkey: and particularly,
some of the newly independent republics that will be affected in
one way or another." Mr. Baker cautioned, however. that exerting economic
pressure through military means will not be looked upon favorably
by Western countries. Mr. Baker is certain that Russia does have
geopolitical interests in the region and that these interests should
be taken into consideration in formulating the mechanism whereby
this oil would be marketed. He added that this process is undertaken through
Russia's participation in the international oil consortium, and stressed
the importance of recognizing this. "I think it is the case of understanding
the geopolitical forces at play here and coming up with a creative solution
that is reasonable and fair, and that will permit the oil to be marketed
and the great economic potential to be realized."
In recent months, Iran was willing to take some shares in the oil consortium.
However, the insistence of the United States not to accept
Iran into the oil consortium, influenced Azerbaijan's decision to deny
Iran entrance into the consortium. Mr. Mollazade asked Mr. Baker
if the U.S. policy towards Iran was fair, and if he could justify
the reasons which led Iran to become an isolated state. Mr.
Baker talked candidly about Iran's desire to have secret meetings
with the Bush Administration, and how he, on the contrary. insisted
on establishing open and diplomatic public meetings with Iranian
officials. Mr. Baker also noted the firm position taken by the U.S.
on Iran's state-sponsorship of terrorism. Resolvedly, face-to-face dialogue
between the two countries did not take place during the Bush Administration.
Mr. Baker agrees with the U.S. policy decision to cease diplomatic ties
with Iran until their unfavorable position on terrorism is suspended.
and supports the cur rent administration's insistence on upholding
this position.
Mr. Mollazade discussed the Turkey's role in the Transcaucasus region,
noting its ethnic links to Azerbaijan and other Turkic republics.
alignment to the U.S., and its membership in NATO and existence as
a secular state. Mr. Baker acknowledged these strong cultural ties and
Turkey's political influence in the newly independent republics.
"I think Turkey has a major vole to play...fearful of Russia and
worried about radical Islamic fundamentalism from Iran, therefore,
the peoples of the independent republics are gravitating toward Turkey."
While traveling in the region. Mr. Baker met with leaders of the
republics in the Transcaucasus and Central Asia. and learned of their
genuine concern surrounding the influx of Iran's radical political position
on fundamentalism, not to be confused with Islamic fundamentalism. Mr.
Baker explained that the leaders of the Transcaucasus and Central Asian
region diligently seek to enhance and strengthen their cultural ties with
Turkey.
Towards the end of our interview, Mr.Mollazade asked Mr. Baker
if he approves the current U.S. policy towards the newly independent states
in the Caucasus and Central Asia, and what he would have done
differently if he was the present Secretary of State. Mr. Baker offered
strong support the current administrations foreign policy decisions
in this region, and is pleased about the way the administration has approached
to the newly independent states. Yet, Mr. Baker is concerned about the
recent U.S. policy of being too "Russocentric," and therefore encourages
U.S. officials to reinforce their support for reform in the newly independent
states and support for the republics' territorial integrity and independence.
Mr. Baker was pleased to add that while the Bush Administration was
preparing to put together the Freedom Support Act, they envisioned
that the act would apply to all the newly independent states in the region.
Due to opposing sentiments in the Congress, however, Azerbaijan was excluded.
Mr. Baker regrets the action taken by the Congress in deciding not
to include Azerbaijan in the Freedom Support Act, but notes
that under the given circumstances, the Bush Administration was unable
to prevail.