AFTER 15 YEARS THERE WILL BE NO STABILITY IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS, NOTES THE CIA PUBLICATION

PanARMENIAN.Net - 20.12.2000, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. "In 2015, the South Caucasus will remain in flux because of unresolved local conflicts, weak economic fundamentals, and continued Russian meddling", reads the paper, prepared under the direction of the National Intelligence Council and approved for publication by the National Foreign Intelligence Board under the authority of the Director of Central Intelligence.

The paper notes that in 2015 Georgia probably will have achieved a measure of political and economic stability, fueled in part by energy transit revenues, but it will remain the focus of Russian attention in the region.

"In 2015 Armenia will remain largely isolated and is likely to remain a Russian -or possibly Iranian - client and, therefore, a regional wild card", the paper says. As regards Azerbaijan, the authors of "Global Trends 2015" foresee that Azerbaijan's success in developing its energy sector is unlikely to bring widespread prosperity: Baku will be a one-sector economy with pervasive corruption at all levels of society.--0--