‘TRANSCAUCASUS: NEW REALITIES, CHANGES, PROSPECTS’ CONFERENCE IN YEREVAN

ArmInfo
2008-11-17 15:46:00

ArmInfo. ‘Transcaucasus: New Realities, Changes, Prospects> conference
was held in Yerevan. The agenda of the conference covers not only past
events, but also presents future expectations, Konstantin Zatoulin,
First Deputy Head of State Duma Committee for CIS, said.’The armed
conflict in South Ossetia has opened for Russia a new stage in the
history of the region since another two states recognized by Russia
have occurred on the map – South Ossetia and Abkhazia. We can see
also changes in the relations of Armenia and Turkey, the latter’s
idea of Caucasian Platform which was supported by Russia. I think,
the history has very rare situations when Russia and Turkey make some
initiatives on the Caucasian region’, he said.

Zatoulin said the organizers pursued a goal to reveal the opinion of
the participants in the conference on the recent developments in the
region and consequences of recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by
Russia. He said the participants will also discuss Armenia’s stances
in the region after the conflict in South Ossetia, whether they have
become stronger or weaker, as well as the prospects of settlement
of Karabakh conflict and the influence on Azerbaijan’s stance, on
Russian-Turkish and Russian-Armenian relations, and the difference
in approaches to many problems by the West.

Fir his part, Armen Ashotyan, Chairman of Armenian Parliamentary
Commission for Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, said
the cycle of topics on agenda of the conference are very urgent for
the country’s political elite. ‘The situation in the South Caucasus is
projected on the policy and economy of Armenia, which is, naturally,
reflected in the domestic policy’, he explained.

The conference organizers are Institute of CIS member-states and
its office in Armenia. Politicians, public workers and experts from
Russia, Armenia, Georgia, Nagorny Karabakh, South Ossetia, Abkhazia
and Iran participated in the conference. The topics for discussions
in sections were: ‘New Geopolitical Situation in South Caucasus’ and
‘State of Russian Citizens in South Caucasus’.