US INTELLIGENCE- NAGORNO-KARABAKH

State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
February 1, 2012 Wednesday

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a potential flashpoint in Caucasus

The US intelligence is concerned about the situation in the
Nagorno-Karabakh and the probability of appearing new flashpoints in
Eurasia, said the Director of US National Intelligence James R.

Clapper in his report to the US Senate Select Committee on
Intelligence.

The unresolved conflicts in the Caucasus and the fragility of some
Central Asian states present most likely flashpoints in the Eurasia
region. The Nagorno-Karabakh is another potential flashpoint.

Heightened rhetoric and distrust between the sides, as well
as continuous violence on the contact line raise the risk of
miscalculations that could escalate the situation without warning,
Clapper said.