ON EXPIRY OF GEORGE BUSH’S TERM THE USA WILL FINALLY LEAVE IRAQ AND THE SOUTH CAUCASUS

ArmInfo
2008-10-06 22:20:00

ArmInfo. On expiry of George Bush’s term the USA will finally leave
Iraq and the South Caucasus, independent analyst Richard Kirakossyan
told ArmInfo correspondent.

Actually, the USA is already leaving the Caucasus for many reasons.

Historically Russia has always been and will be in the Caucasus,
and the USA has always been a long way from the region and will keep
staying at a distance, he said. "I think when the 8-year term of Bush
Jr. expires, Americans will finally leave both Iraq and the South
Caucasus", Kirakossyan said.

As for the Turkish initiative of creation of "the Caucasus Platform",
the analyst doesn’t consider the USA to be the real initiator of
the platform.

The USA has never objected to Armenia-Iran relations, it is Turkey
that really comes out against Iran’s participation in the program,
as Turkey’s first natural enemy is not Russia, but Iran.

On the other hand, Turkey wants to assume the role of a country
consolidating other countries of the region, and then as a strong
regional country to deal with Iran, Kirakossyan stressed. In early
August Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested creating a
"Caucasus Platform of Stability and Security" implying participation
of Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Russia, the USA and Turkey.