Strengthening stability in the South Caucasus meets U.S. national interests, said Pentagon’s Principal Director for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia Jennifer Walsh.

Cooperation in the field of defense with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia is based on bilateral agreements, and reflects the priorities and goals that the sides envisage, she said speaking at  “Twenty Years of Independence in the South Caucasus: Achievements and Challenges” conference, ITAR-TASS reported.

Walsh pointed out five main reasons why the South Caucasus is important to ensure security of U.S. First of all due to its geographical position and proximity to Iran, secondly, it is the southern part of Northern distribution network supplying troops to Afghanistan.

The U.S. official also stressed that Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia have also contributed to the Afghanistan International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The region is an important supplier of energy and corridor for transporting energy resources from Central Asia.

Stability and resolution of conflicts in the region meets U.S. national interests, she added. And the last reason is that the South Caucasus is a large group of Euro-Atlantic countries, and the U.S. is interested in providing opportunities for those states which look forward to join the Euro-Atlantic institutions.

Walsh also stressed that Pentagon helps Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia in reforming the armed forces, development of modern military institutions, improving interoperability with NATO forces and development of opportunities for participation in peacekeeping operations.

“The region has already contributed to international efforts in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. Armenia has recently tripled the size of its contingent in Afghanistan up to 120 people,” she said.

Pentagon’s representative also stated Russia, as a neighboring country, plays an important role in the region.

However, neither Russia nor any other state should have a veto over the sovereign decisions taken by the regional countries, including decisions to join any European institutions and transatlantic family, she stressed.

The U.S. has no intention to compete with Russia over influence in any region and does not seek to exclude Russia from the South Caucasus, Walsh concluded.