ANDRANIK MIHRANIAN: SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH ISSUE DEPENDS NEITHER ON YEREVAN NOR ON BAKU
AZG Armenian Daily
20/05/2006
The sooner Nagorno Karabakh conflict is settled, the better it is
for Armenia. Andranik Mihranian, political expert, said at a press
conference yesterday. At the same time, he stated that the settlement
of the conflict depends neither on Armenia, nor on Azerbaijan. “The
super powers settle it,” he said. He said that the speeding up of
the settlement process will follow from the interests of USA in the
region. He added that Baku will never agree with the independence of
NKR, while Armenia and NKR will not agree to see NKR in the structure
of Azerbaijan.That’s why the experts should find a solution that will
make Yerevan and Baku agree with a certain formulae.
Passing on to other regional issues Andranik Mihranian said the
Georgian-Russian relations add tension in the South Caucasus. He
stated that the Armenian authorities should figure out how can the
Georgian-Russian relations, as well as Georgia-Azerbaijan-Turkey circle
influence Armenia and how to avert isolation. He stated that Armenia’s
future is in cooperation with Russia and USA. At the same time he
emphasized the naivety of Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili who
thinks that they may use Washington against Moscow. He said that
hysteria in Georgia in the last months is directed to drawing the
attention of USA to the fact that Georgia “is a small innocent victim
in the hands of a wild bear.”
Moreover, Mihranian thinks that the current Georgian authorities are
“the biggest enemy of the Georgian people.”
Mihranian stated that the American-Iranian relations are also
tense. He emphasized that the probable confrontation in Iran may have
great impact on Armenia, taking into account the fact that the only
trustworthy path for Armenia to the outer world stretches through
Iran. As for the path through Georgia, Mihranian emphasized that “the
neighbor of Armenia is not trustworthy. Besides, destabilization in
Iran may have negative impact on the construction of Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline, moreover cause destabilization in Azerbaijan, as well. The
construction of Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi railway may isolate Armenia
and the Armenian authorities should talk over Washington to exert
pressure on Turkey to hinder the construction.
Mihranian stated that he doesn’t think that the cold war between
USA and Russia will resume. In particular, he pointed out that
these countries compete for influence in the former Soviet republics
(Ukraine, Georgia, and the Central Asian countries). Mihranian said
that Russia’s position has changed and it wants to become a partner
country. But, being accustomed to the lack of competition, it doesn’t
want to quit its leading role. Mihranian said that in connection with
this, there can occur some clashes and local competition. As for
Armenia’s relations with super powers, Mihranian said that Yerevan
managed to preserve normal relations both with Russia and USA. He
conditioned this in some respect by the activities of the Armenian
lobby and well as by the coinciding interests. At the same time,
he pointed out the growth of the Azeri lobby in USA.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress