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Armenian agency calls for clear-cut Middle East policy
Mediamax news agency, Yerevan
24 Jul 06
24 July: On 23 July, all Armenian churches gave prayer for the
restoration of peace in the Middle East. This is quite understandable -
an Armenian community of 120,000 people lives in Lebanon. It is one
of the most united and well organized communities of the Armenian
diaspora.
[Passage omitted: known details about Armenia's relations with Israel,
Turkey, Iran]
The new spiral of tension in the Middle East is a serious challenge
for Armenia, as Israel and the USA do not conceal that this time they
are going to finally resolve the "Hezbollah problem". This means that
the new conflict in the Middle East may last long and result in the
direct or indirect involvement of Iran and Syria in it. In this case,
Armenia, which is now implementing the Individual Partnership Action
Plan (IPAP) with NATO, will obviously have to revise some aspects of
its foreign policy.
As back as six months ago, in one of our weekly analytical reports
we expressed doubt as to whether Yerevan has a clear strategy of
relations with the Greater Middle East. Unfortunately, our doubts
have not only disappeared during this time but have strengthened.
The USA does not make it secret that it views the so-called Wider Black
Sea region (including the South Caucasus) as one of the elements of
its "strategic rear" and keeps on indicating to the interdependence
of processes in the Caucasus and Middle East. This makes Russia,
Turkey and some European neighbours of the USA nervous. Such clash
of interests followed by the growing tension over Iran's nuclear
programme should make the Armenian leadership seriously think over
its place and role in the Great Middle East and work out a relevant
program of action for a long-term perspective.
Speaking about foreign policy immediately after his election as
Armenian president in 1998, Robert Kocharyan said: "We don't see
the world in black and white colours any longer." Today, two years
before the end of his terms in office, Kocharyan has a chance to
use the whole scale of available political colours to rule out the
possibility that the echo of today's explosions in the Middle East
may ever affect Armenia.
Mediamax news agency, Yerevan
24 Jul 06
24 July: On 23 July, all Armenian churches gave prayer for the
restoration of peace in the Middle East. This is quite understandable -
an Armenian community of 120,000 people lives in Lebanon. It is one
of the most united and well organized communities of the Armenian
diaspora.
[Passage omitted: known details about Armenia's relations with Israel,
Turkey, Iran]
The new spiral of tension in the Middle East is a serious challenge
for Armenia, as Israel and the USA do not conceal that this time they
are going to finally resolve the "Hezbollah problem". This means that
the new conflict in the Middle East may last long and result in the
direct or indirect involvement of Iran and Syria in it. In this case,
Armenia, which is now implementing the Individual Partnership Action
Plan (IPAP) with NATO, will obviously have to revise some aspects of
its foreign policy.
As back as six months ago, in one of our weekly analytical reports
we expressed doubt as to whether Yerevan has a clear strategy of
relations with the Greater Middle East. Unfortunately, our doubts
have not only disappeared during this time but have strengthened.
The USA does not make it secret that it views the so-called Wider Black
Sea region (including the South Caucasus) as one of the elements of
its "strategic rear" and keeps on indicating to the interdependence
of processes in the Caucasus and Middle East. This makes Russia,
Turkey and some European neighbours of the USA nervous. Such clash
of interests followed by the growing tension over Iran's nuclear
programme should make the Armenian leadership seriously think over
its place and role in the Great Middle East and work out a relevant
program of action for a long-term perspective.
Speaking about foreign policy immediately after his election as
Armenian president in 1998, Robert Kocharyan said: "We don't see
the world in black and white colours any longer." Today, two years
before the end of his terms in office, Kocharyan has a chance to
use the whole scale of available political colours to rule out the
possibility that the echo of today's explosions in the Middle East
may ever affect Armenia.