"What’s happening, from my perspective, is that people in the South Caucasus region are beginning to understand that their self-interest lies in greater cooperation now. Not out of love and affection, but out of necessity and opportunity," in a wide-ranging interview with RFE/RL in Prague on Saturday, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden pointed to the recently signed Turkish-Armenian agreements and progress toward a settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan on Nagorno-Karabakh as causes for optimism. By responding to the question as to how the US estimates the recent developments in the South Caucasus, which create both opportunities and risks Biden said, “Big nations and alliances always benefit from the developments originated as a result of change and thus make those opportunities for themselves. I welcome the efforts of the State Secretary Clinton. You have seen what has happened between Turkey and Armenia and you see what’s happening now regarding other sensitive issues.” By mentioning that the countries of the region have started to realize that broad cooperation comes from their interests Biden said, “Not love but necessity and need stimulate this cooperation.” “This is going to be a very difficult period,” continued the vice president. “It is fraught with danger, but I would argue it’s fraught with more opportunity than danger. And I see more positive things happening than negative things happening.” “I think everyone’s seized with the consequence of not making progress in that region of the world. Therefore, we are trying to work with our friends in Turkey, Europe, Eastern Europe and Caucasus, who are facing actual changes right now. Let us review the issue from another perspective. In ten years this region will become a real criterion, a test by which the upcoming generations will decide whether we were able to overcome the challenges of the 21st century,” said Biden and added, “Therefore, because so many are focused on it, I’m more hopeful than I am pessimistic.”
