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Caucasus Not Key Region For Islamic State - Armenian Experts

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  • Caucasus Not Key Region For Islamic State - Armenian Experts

    CAUCASUS NOT KEY REGION FOR ISLAMIC STATE - ARMENIAN EXPERTS

    16:31 * 14.01.15

    The Islamists' ambitions to target the Caucasus are mainly limited
    to rhetorics, an Armenian orientalist has said, pointing out to
    Azerbaijan and Russia's restraining counteraction.

    "The fighting Islamism's strategy is a global one, and the goal is
    to create a Caliphate. The medieval Arab-Islamist state's borders
    are known to have embraced the Caucasus, including Armenia. That's
    one of the reasons that the Caucasus has appeared in the Islamists'
    strategic program," Araks Pashayan, a specialist in Arab studies,
    told Tert.am, considering serious steps almost unlikely.

    "I don't think the Islamic State's geography will extend beyond Iraq
    and Syria at the current stage," she said, speaking further of Turkey's
    possible involvement.

    Noting that Turkey has its own plans, the expert said she finds the
    IS a good stronghold for Turkey to fight both Syrian and Kurdish
    movements. "Turkey's role in the Middle East processes is strictly
    negative. They for many years aided, trained and offered healthcare
    services to jihadists to help them cross into Syria and so on,"
    Pashayan said, pointing out to Turkey's role in the undermining of
    the Arab world's security.

    "I think Turkey also pursues cautious policies towards Islamism,
    as Ankara sees that that the expansion of extremist moods may have
    an undermining effect for Turkey. Turkey helps direct the Jihadist
    resources to the intended target," she said, remembering the country's
    support to Wahabbists during the Russian-Chechen war.

    According to the political analyst Levon Shirinyan, the Islamist want
    but do not yet plan any specific step to reach the region. "The whole
    Europe would like the Islamic State to hit the Caucasus not Paris,"
    he said, adding that he doesn't see any threat to Armenia.

    The expert further called for remembering that the Islamist policies
    are built upon the Panturkist ideology. "I don't think the Caucasus
    issue is actual for Islam. Hence, it isn't even right to discuss the
    issue given that they have targeted Europe," he said, adding that he
    sees the Turkish intelligence services now back the Islamists.

    "I believe that Islam will launch a fresh attack; there will be several
    attack in the European environment to stir up a mess among the Turks
    in Europe," he said, pointing out to the big European communities in
    Germany and France.

    "I have proposed that Europe take rapid efforts towards steps to
    strengthening and offering redress to Armenia. Turkey can be restrained
    with the Armenian Genocide strait jacket as are the Germans with the
    Holocaust one," he added.

    Political analyst Sergey Shakaryants believes that all the threats
    by the Islamic State leaders should be taken seriously because US
    special services are architects of the organization.

    He points out the fact that some of the organization members are
    of Caucasian descent. Armenia, in cooperation with other states,
    which are interested in curbing Islamists' activities, should develop
    mechanisms of resistance.

    "We remember that Armenians were the first targets of terrorism in the
    Caucasus, particularly the Armenians in Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh],"
    he said.

    As regards the Turkish factor, Mr Shakaryants said:

    "The USA long ago assigned Turkey the role of a state furthering the
    Islamic State's activities. This is the reason why it keeps on refusing
    to recognize it as a terrorist organization, calling on other states
    not to recognize the Islamic State as a terrorist organization."

    As regards threats posed by the Islamic State, the Caucasus is one
    of the targets because the USA and Turkey are pressing Armenia's
    authorities into recognizing present-day Armenian-Turkish border.

    "That would put an end to the Treaty of Kars because Armenians
    themselves will both recognize Kars as part of Turkey and waiver
    their right to Nakhijevan forever," Mr Shakaryan said.

    In terms of oil and gas reserves, Russia is a more probable target
    for the USA-hired Islamists than Azerbaijan.

    http://www.tert.am/en/news/2015/01/14/islamakan-petutyun/1558727

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