Director of International Security and Energy Programs of the Nixon Center Zeyno Baran stated that "the US should at the highest level get involved in the Karabakh conflict settlement process in order to change political and economic conditions." In her words in 2002 Vladimir Putin and George Bush made a joint statement on the necessity of settling frozen conflicts in Nagorno Karabakh and Abkhazia, "however no further steps were taken." The process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement was placed at the disposal of the OSCE Minsk Group, which cannot secure the problem solution as the issue demands discussion at the highest level. Despite the continuing dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the incapability of finding a solution causes disappointment and undermines OSCE's authority", Zeyno Baran noted. In her words, besides the Putin-Bush discussions democratic progress is essential both in Armenia and Azerbaijan. "The US should call the leaders of both states to perceive democratic processes as an essential condition for establishing regional security and stability", she noted. According to her, both Armenia and Azerbaijan are convinced that the time will decide in their favor. "The West tells Azerbaijan that it had lost Karabakh in the war and that it should abdicate from this territory in the name of peace and prosperity and develop the process of integration in the EU and NATO. Such conversations only toughen the position of nationalists, who consider that the high profits from oil and gas will help them to return the territories by force", the expert added. "Armenia in its turn thinks that the time will be in its credit for juridical registration of Nagorno Karabakh beyond the borders of Azerbaijan. Armenian politicians hold the opinion that Azerbaijan will never run the risk of waging a war, as it comprehends that oil and gas pipelines can be damaged thus causing the collapse of economy.