ALEXANDER ISKANDARYAN: "THE RELATIONS TURKEY-ARMENIA AND TURKEY-AZERBAIJAN HAVE REALLY BROKEN APART"
Today.Az
itics/49805.html
Dec 25 2008
Azerbaijan
The current year was filled with events, important for Armenia in
the external political sphere, according to famous Armenian political
scientist Alexander Iskandaryan. He said paradoxically, in the sphere
of relations with Russia and the United States, these were mainly
the events, caused from beyond Armenia.
"I imply the so-called "five days war". The war has dramatically
changed the situation in the South Caucasus, which influenced the
dynamics of relations between Armenia and Russia and the United
States. The sharp worsening of image, as well as Georgia’s role
and weight for the West, raised importance of Armenia (as well as
Azerbaijan) which lead to the intensification of US policy in the
region.
On the contrary, the internal political events in Armenia (February
elections and the events following them) affected Armenia’s image on
the West and neutralization of this effect will take time, at least
in 2009.
As for Turkey, the changes are merely revolutionary. I think it would
be excessive to repeat facts, which are known to the reader, but it is
clear that the whole background of the Armenian-Turkish relations have
changed in the result of events in 2008. I do not support the idea
that the Armenian-Turkish relations will improve quickly and we are
looking forward the results of the spring local elections in Turkey.
But regardless of how the process moves forward, there have already
been revolutionary changes. "Armenia issue" has become an issue of
internal discourse in Turkey and the real breaking of Turkish-Armenian
and Turkish-Azerbaijani relations has occured", said Iskandaryan.
As for the influence of the global financial crisis on the geopolitical
situation in the region, he said it will affect all economies of the
region and reduce the regional weight of energy producing countries
Speaking about the Karabakh conflict, he said the resolution of this
conflict in the political perspective is impossible, it remained in
a frozen state. The parties have no real readiness for resolution,
military resolution is unserious, external powers are unable to force
the sides to make compromises. The quo status is maintained.
"The most important event of this year was the Meindorf declaration".
As for his expectations from the 2009 in the sense of the resolution
of the conflict and the overall development of the South Caucasus
countries, Iskandaryan said he still expects pseudo fights on pseudo
fields, and nothing real can occur on this scene.
"As for the overall development, two processes are important:
continuation of the Armenian-Turkish dialogue and cooperation with
Europe in the implementation of the Eastern Partnership program. I
also expect the replacement of powers in Georgia.
And, certainly, in this unstable situation, which is observed due
to the world financial crisis and the expected social programs,
emergency situations are possible in all the countries of the region",
concluded Iskandaryan.
From: Baghdasarian