STEPAN GRIGORIAN: CONFLICT IN GEORGIA HAS PASSED INTO FIELD OF RIVALRY BETWEEN WEST AND RUSSIA

Noyan Tapan

Au g 14, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, NOYAN TAPAN. Today the parties of the conflict
in Georgia are Russia and Georgia. Russia is no longer a mediator
in settlement of the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia as it
has become a party in the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict, Stepan
Grigorian, head of the Analytical Center on Globalization and Regional
Cooperation, stated at the August 14 discussion organized by the
National Civil Initiative.

In his words, by its actions in the conflict zone, Russia in fact
stopped the implementation of programs of EU and NATO in the region,
first of all, the US- and NATO-implemented programs on development
of Georgia’s military sector.

S. Grigorian aslo said that the conflict in Georgia has passed into the
so-called global field of rivalry between the West and Russia. At the
same time, in his opinion, the events in Georgia are not yet over and
are in progress. Based on that, S. Grigorian considered it expedient
to give a political assessment of the Georgian events later.

As regards the position of the Armenian side on this issue, the
political scientist said that it is quite difficult to orientate
oneself as both state are of great importance. He also expressed
satisfaction at the Armenian foreign ministry’s statement on the
Georgian events, calling this statement balanced.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress