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THE WEST AND OUR REGION
Lilit Poghosyan
Hayots Ashkhar Daily
une 27, 2008
Armenia
We continue the publication of the interview with political scientist
Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan
"Don't you underestimate the geopolitical factor while stressing the
omissions of our delegation? Doesn't this account for the fact that the
West is much more sensitive to the 'pro-Russian Armenia' than to the
anti-democratic deviations of the neighboring Georgia and Azerbaijan?"
"I agree. The West is an ally to the ruling authorities both in
Azerbaijan and Georgia because the leaderships of both countries
definitely pursue pro-Western views. It's a different matter that the
Georgian President is much more sincere in his pro-Western policy. As
to the Azeri President, he is more restrained in his statements but
his activity is definately Western-oriented. That's to say, they are
advantageous to the West. The West has created a kind of support for
itself in the South Caucasus thanks to Georgia and Azerbaijan.
However, it is impossible to rule over the South Caucasus without
Armenia.
And the authorities of Armenia are traditionally pro-Armenian, as
shown by the policy of the second President and his legal successor
Serge Sargsyan.
Or, let's say, 'pro-Eastern'. This is the policy that corresponds to
the aspirations and the civilization values of our people.
Armenia is not a pro-Russian country. We are, first of all, an eastern
nation, and our 'East' is much more civilized than the 'West' which
is now being offered to us. And our being a pro-Eastern nation is
not apparently to the liking of the West.
However, there are some misguided people in our reality whose
mentality and approaches contradict our national ideology in very
many issues. Naturally, those people are much more advantageous to
the West; they work in their favor and benefit from the direct and
indirect assistance of the West.
It's quite a different matter that the West is not, after all,
interested who is at the helm of state in Armenia, They are even
ready to make the "mop" become a President if they see that one
part of that mop is bent to the West. But is it advantageous to the
people to be governed by a mop? I am sure not. One thing is clear:
as long as Mr. Aliev rules over Azerbaijan, and Mr. Sahakashvili
rules over Georgia, the West will not provide assistance to the
Azerbaijani and Georgian opposition. And, on the contrary, it will
assist the Armenian opposition as long as the Armenian authorities
are conducting a pro-Armenian or "pro-Eastern" policy."
"What about the presidential race and the post-electoral developments?
Don't they create an illusion that Armenia is the weak link on which
it is possible to impose unacceptable solutions with regard to the
Karabakh issue, taking into consideration L. Ter-Petrosyan attitude
towards the Karabakh issue?"
"The West, in this case, doesn't much care whether Artsakh will belong
to Armenia or Azerbaijan. What they need is stability and peace in
the region".
Lilit Poghosyan
Hayots Ashkhar Daily
une 27, 2008
Armenia
We continue the publication of the interview with political scientist
Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan
"Don't you underestimate the geopolitical factor while stressing the
omissions of our delegation? Doesn't this account for the fact that the
West is much more sensitive to the 'pro-Russian Armenia' than to the
anti-democratic deviations of the neighboring Georgia and Azerbaijan?"
"I agree. The West is an ally to the ruling authorities both in
Azerbaijan and Georgia because the leaderships of both countries
definitely pursue pro-Western views. It's a different matter that the
Georgian President is much more sincere in his pro-Western policy. As
to the Azeri President, he is more restrained in his statements but
his activity is definately Western-oriented. That's to say, they are
advantageous to the West. The West has created a kind of support for
itself in the South Caucasus thanks to Georgia and Azerbaijan.
However, it is impossible to rule over the South Caucasus without
Armenia.
And the authorities of Armenia are traditionally pro-Armenian, as
shown by the policy of the second President and his legal successor
Serge Sargsyan.
Or, let's say, 'pro-Eastern'. This is the policy that corresponds to
the aspirations and the civilization values of our people.
Armenia is not a pro-Russian country. We are, first of all, an eastern
nation, and our 'East' is much more civilized than the 'West' which
is now being offered to us. And our being a pro-Eastern nation is
not apparently to the liking of the West.
However, there are some misguided people in our reality whose
mentality and approaches contradict our national ideology in very
many issues. Naturally, those people are much more advantageous to
the West; they work in their favor and benefit from the direct and
indirect assistance of the West.
It's quite a different matter that the West is not, after all,
interested who is at the helm of state in Armenia, They are even
ready to make the "mop" become a President if they see that one
part of that mop is bent to the West. But is it advantageous to the
people to be governed by a mop? I am sure not. One thing is clear:
as long as Mr. Aliev rules over Azerbaijan, and Mr. Sahakashvili
rules over Georgia, the West will not provide assistance to the
Azerbaijani and Georgian opposition. And, on the contrary, it will
assist the Armenian opposition as long as the Armenian authorities
are conducting a pro-Armenian or "pro-Eastern" policy."
"What about the presidential race and the post-electoral developments?
Don't they create an illusion that Armenia is the weak link on which
it is possible to impose unacceptable solutions with regard to the
Karabakh issue, taking into consideration L. Ter-Petrosyan attitude
towards the Karabakh issue?"
"The West, in this case, doesn't much care whether Artsakh will belong
to Armenia or Azerbaijan. What they need is stability and peace in
the region".