Azerbaijan, Baku, 10 July / Trend corr E.Huseynov/ United States' intelligence services think 'frozen conflicts' in Caucasus are unlikely to be settled in near future. "Caucasus conflicts are unlikely to be settled in near future," says US intelligence services' report about security threats.
"The report (Annual Threat Assessment of the Intelligence Community) lists the problems which United States is facing," Washington ProFile reported. The list includes international terrorism (activities of Al Qaeda and Hezbollah highlighted); proliferation of mass destruction weapons (North Korea and Iran - Iran is supposed to be able to create a nuclear weapon at the end of 2009, which is however unlikely); complicated situation in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan; political stability in Europe, Horn of Africa, Middle East and Eurasia; several countries' aspiration to improve their anti-satellite potential; world's rising food and energy prices, etc.
The report several times mentioned Russia. It says Russia, China and OPEC countries are supposed to use their financial and market potential to reach political goals, which can threaten USA's security. According to the report, Russia (along with China) possesses technical opportunities required for cyberwar against United States' infrastructure.
The report says the tandem 'Vladimir Putin - Dmitriy Medvedev' seems not to change country's state power system. The system provides weak state institutions, corruption and growing authoritarianism. Political factor will not harm economy, though growth rate of Russian economy will a bit slow down. The demographic factor still remains Russia's serious problem, which will negatively affect many economic sectors and armed forces' state. Report's authors attributed lost of skilled and experienced servicemen to Russia's defence problems.
The report says Central Asia remains a fruitful ground for radical Islamist ideas and movements; Ukraine's political instability will keep on going for a long time.
US intelligence services annually submit such reports to Senate Armed Services Committee.