THE WORLD IS NO MORE UNI-POLAR
Gevorg Harutyunyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
28 Aug 2008
Armenia

Political Scientist Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan touched upon the
geopolitical changes after Russia’s recognition of the independence
of Abkhazia and South Osatia.

By building his commentaries on the exclusive bases of giving peaceful
settlement to Artsakh issue, the political scientist considered it
not very consistent that by now Yerevan didn’t follow Russia’s example.

"It is the territory of CIS, our region, it is not Indonesia or
Eastern Europe. The developments take place in South Caucasus, and
the destinies of South Osatia, Abkhasia and Artsakh are similar. The
world is not to blame for the fact that Artsakh issue is observed as an
outlying conflict. It is a consequence of the bad diplomacy of Armenia
and Nagorno Karabakh." This is how the speaker clarified his stance.

Levon Melik Shahnazaryan reminded that Artsakh is the first in the
territory of the Soviet Union to announce about its decision to
choose the direction of sovereignty and the only one that managed to
defend itself from aggression. "Today Artsakh is undoubtedly the most
democratic state in the region and, unlike Abkhazia and South Osatia
it has proved, that it is able to maintain its independence. Thus
our foreign policy needs very serious corrections, especially because
Azerbaijan is our opponent, which is able to represent his importance
to the world. In the created situation I expect more decisive and
serious steps.

The political scientist considered it necessary for Armenia and
Azerbaijan to sign inter-state agreements, recording the fact
of cooperation in the military, political, social and economic
spheres. After this Armenia must recognize the independence of Artsakh,
and call all the other states to follow its example.

To avoid the accusations of pursuing double standard policy we must
respond to the appeal of the President of the Russian Federation to
recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Osatia. "These two
states have all the legal grounds to be independent. And, by the way,
more than Kosovo. If we don’t do so we will lose our chance to blame
any other country that will refuse to recognize the independence of
Artsakh, based on its interests," the speaker added.

Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan underscored the possibility of certain
negotiations, as a result of which Armenia will recognize the
independence of South Osatia and Abkhazia and the Russian Federation
will recognize the independence of Artsakh. "The recognized country is
protected by the international law. It is a guarantee of security. And
Artsakh can get this guarantee if we manage to hold the negotiations
with right diplomacy.

And our relations with Georgia will never be bad in case Georgia
doesn’t announce a war against20Armenia. But it will be the beginning
of Georgia’s end. Turkey can also recognize the independence of
Abkhazia, because they consider this territory one of its states,"
the political scientist said.