IRAN-ISRAEL CONFRONTATION OVER IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAM REACHES A DEADLOCK
Karine Ter-Sahakyan
PanARMENIAN.Net
15.08.2009 GMT+04:00
Armenia as a mediator can be used in certain delicate situations where
it is better to turn to a weak country, rather than to a powerful one.
Ambassador of Israel to Armenia Shemi Tzur had a "secret" meeting with
Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosyan. However, the mystery
was not the meeting itself but the contents of the negotiations,
which, in our opinion, discussed purely regional problems. If we go
further on the predictable topic, we can assume that the negotiations
referred to Iran . Let us note, however, that diplomatic negotiations
are almost always confidential, and the best the press can count on
is the press release, which, at best, gives rather vague information
or doesn’t give at all.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Iran-Israel confrontation over Iran ‘s nuclear
program has reached a deadlock, which can be proved by the recent
address of Iran to the UN. "Iran has asked the United Nations to call
a meeting to consider banning attacks on nuclear installations. The
address of the Iranian leadership can be explained by the fear that
Israel might attack Iranian reactors. Earlier, Israel had said it will
not tolerate a nuclear Iran and has dropped hints about taking military
action against Iran’s enrichment facilities if diplomatic efforts fail
to halt the nuclear program," Iranian agency Fars reports. Address
of Tehran to the UN is an unprecedented phenomenon, as so far the
Iranian side has done no such thing. Experience shows that after such
addresses the probability of war between nations increases inevitably.
However, another war in the region would cause nothing but victims
and destruction, and most apparently Iran and Israel know it well. But
Tel Aviv, believing that in any case she will have the support of the
U.S. and Turkey , may do a "foolery", which is not true about Iran
that, despite the ambiguous figure of Ahmadinejad and his statements
on the intention to wipe Israel off the face of the earth, will
hardly begin to bomb Jerusalem . After the scandalous presidential
elections Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will need to, at any cost, show himself
more civilized than he really is. And in order to do it he will,
first of all, have to find common language with Israel .
Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, Armenia is the only country which
holds normal and even friendly relations with Iran . Almost the same
can be said about the Armenian-Israeli relations, which hardly exist
but have prospects to develop. In all probability Yerevan and Tel Aviv
will agree on matters of mutual interest, especially since they do not
interfere with each other. The only negative point in this relationship
is the presence of Azerbaijan , which very painfully reacts to Armenian
diplomats’ contact with any country in the world. But, as they say,
this is the problem of Baku …
Who knows, perhaps the Israeli diplomat has brought a message to
Yerevan to be conveyed to Tehran . This position satisfies all parties:
Israel and Iran solve their problems with the help of, so to say,
Armenia . Yerevan gets some dividends from both sides. Of course,
Armenia will not get a voting right in the region, but as a mediator
she can be used in certain delicate situations where it is better to
turn to a weak country, rather than to a powerful one. A strong country
would always seek a profit in the mediation and we do not have to go
far for an example: Israel , after long and unsuccessful negotiations,
refused Turkey ‘s mediation in relations with Syria . The question is
whether the Armenian Foreign Ministry will be able to take advantage
of this situation. The sad experience, however, shows that Yerevan
often begins to act when it is already too late. But let us hope for
the best…
Meanwhile, on August 18-19, Israeli President Shimon Peres travels
to Dmitry Medvedev in Sochi . The meetings will discuss issues of
cooperation between Israel and Russia and expansion of the strategic
dialogue. No doubt, the Iranian-Israeli confrontation is going to be
one of the key topics at the meetings. In any case, next week could
outline the agreement, at which Iran and Israel will (or will not)
arrive with the mediation of Russia and possibly Armenia .