ABOUT ROBERT KOCHARYAN’S VISIT
Hakob Badalyan

Lragir.am
22/01/10

Despite recently increased developments in the Karabakh settlement
process, the visit of the former president of Armenia Robert Kocharyan
to Iran has caused huge interest.

This press information immediately provoked rumors about the return
of Kocharyan, or at least, a try in this connection. Moreover, many
even felt that without the support of Russia and the West, Kocharyan
decided to seek assistance from Iran. But these conclusions are a bit
hasty. The point is not that Robert Kocharyan visited Iran not on his
own initiative and by invitation, and met with the president and the
Foreign Minister of this country to discuss serious issues. In the
end, Iran is not a country that indulges someone’s plans, even if it
is a retired president. That is, it is obvious that Kocharyan needs
Iran not less than, at least, Iran needs Kocharyan.

And maybe this is the most important point in this issue. Which is the
reason why Iran discusses bilateral relations and regional issues with
the retired president and not with the current government of Armenia?

Can Iran not talk to the official Yerevan on these issues? Is Robert
Kocharyan a mediator between the official Tehran and Yerevan? Does Iran
want to show with this step its dissatisfaction with Serge Sargsyan’s
foreign policy? Or maybe Serge Sargsyan wants to communicate with
Iran through Robert Kocharyan because Sargsyan is very busy and cannot
do all the work in the directions of the Armenian and Turkish issue,
Western and Russian matters. These are questions the answer of which
will enable to understand or imagine Robert Kocharyan’s visit to Iran.

It is noteworthy that information about the visit of the ex-president
of Armenia to Iran was not covered much by the Armenian TV channels.

Perhaps the Armenian authorities are advantageous to demonstrate that
they are not related to the visit of the president Kocharyan like to
the anti-Western lexicon heard during his visit. On the other hand,
for Serge Sargsyan Kocharyan’s visit and the content of the issues
discussed can be a good argument against Turkey and the West: see
what can happen if the Armenian and Turkish process fails.

In any case, it is obvious that Kocharyan’s visit opens a new section
in the Armenian and regional developments, borders, and the "relief"
of which will be determined only over time.