WikiLeaks: Philip Gordon Parrots Turkish, Azeri Position on Karabagh

LOS ANGELES—In a confidential cable dated July 9, 2009—and leaked by WikiLeaks this month—Philip Gordon, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for Europe and Eurasian affairs, reportedly said that “Resolving Nagorno-Karabakh is the key to unlocking Turkish-Armenian relations” at a July 3, 2009 meeting with 27 EU political directors.

According to the same document, Gordon saw the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict as an important step toward facilitating regional energy supplies. “The Russians have been reasonably productive on this account, but it is unclear whether they are just going through the motions or are seriously engaged, particularly as a Nagorno-Karabakh solution would facilitate a Southern Corridor gas route.”