IN ESTIMATION OF MELIK-SHAHNAZARIAN, SITUATION IS VERY STRAINED IN REGION

Noyan Tapan
Nov 7, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN. The situation is very tense in the
region and under this circumstance Armenia, in fact, is an island
of peace. This opinion was expressed by political scientist Levon
Melik-Shahnazarian. He, in particular, referred to the events taking
place in Georgia and Iraqi Kurdistan.

According to the political scientist, there will be no revolution in
Georgia, since the positions of Mikhail Saakashvili are rather steady,
and if, however, a revolution takes place, that country, in any way,
will not change its foreign pro-West policy.

In the opinion of Levon Melik-Shahnazarian, those, who are currently
against Mikhail Saakashvili, are his supporters, in fact. "Not
ideological, but an intra-clan struggle is proceeding in Georgia,
which, however, can have a negative influence on the economy of
Armenia," he said.

As for the developments proceeding in Iraqi Kurdistan,
Melik-Shahnazarian mentioned that the United States of America will
try to use the current strained situation against Iran. According to
him, it is not excluded that certain Kurdish detachments, conducting a
partisan warfare with the Turkish regular army, will pass the border
of Iran, which can become an important factor for destabilizing the
inner situation in Iran.