The Russian Nezavisimaya Gazeta has published information concerning the recent visit of The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Tina Keidenau to South Caucasus. After visiting Georgia and Azerbaijan she also visited Armenia. Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes that in the three countries of South Caucasus Tina Keidenau was planning to meet with representatives of the governments, influential opposition leaders and non-governmental organizations, as a result of which the American diplomat was planning to get familiar with democratic processes in South Caucasus. This served a reason for experts to compare the situations in South Caucasus, Middle East and North Africa, where the political situations are tense. There are rumors that there may be serious changes in the inner political environments of the three countries of South Caucasus. According to Nezavisimaya Gazeta, if generally demonstrations have become a normal thing in Armenia and Georgia, it is not the same in Azerbaijan, where the opposition has become active too. That is the reason why the visit of the former US Ambassador to Kosovo, supporter of democratic values (one of the architects of Kosovo’s independence) Tina Keidenau has originated rumors about color revolutions in the Caucasus. According to the Russian newspaper, it is more evident in consideration of the fact that Tina Keidenau left for Georgia from Baku being accompanied by Matthew Bryza, who during the visit of Tina Keidenau proposed an idea of organizing a meeting of US Ambassadors in South Caucasus countries in Tbilisi. However the Ambassador to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch did not take part in that meeting. Vice-Ambassador Bruce Donahue participated in that meeting. The newspaper mentions that Marie Yovanovitch has been Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan as well and often her name is connected with the “Tulip revolution” in that country. The newspaper also writes that on April 28 the Armenian opposition held a large demonstration. “Inner political tension is higher in Armenia than in Georgia and Azerbaijan. On Wednesday president Serzh Sargsyan allowed organizing demonstrations in the Freedom Square, which had been banned since the tragic events of March 1-2 resulting in the death of 10 people. With this decision he eliminated one of the most important factors that make oppositionists nervous. It is difficult to say what the American diplomats spoke about in Tbilisi (according to Bryza, they exchanged with opinions about the situation in South Caucasus), however Tina Keidenau does not hide the purposes of her visit to the region. In difference with Baku, in Tbilisi Tina Keidenau had meetings with influential opposition activists and discussed issues concerning the parliamentary and presidential elections in 2012 and 2013. With that action the diplomat made the opponents of Sahakashvili active. The diplomat announced about her wish to see a democratic country in Baku too and definitely she will do the same in Armenia as well,” writes the Nezavisimaya Gazeta.
