AZG Armenian Daily #192, 20/10/2007
ANTI-AMERICAN GATHERING IN TEHRAN
The Summit of Caspian States ended in Iranian capital Tehran. Similar
gatherings took place 26 times during the last years, but all of them
ended without any result; until today, the international and legal
status of the Caspian Sea is not determined yet. Before the start of
the Summit experts announced that this Summit also would end without
serious changes, as contradictions between Caspian countries,
especially Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Iran were so deep that there
would not be any change on this issue.
Anyway, in spite of the absence of the hopes of achieving success on
the issue, the Summit of Tehran may be called historical, as that kind
of gathering, when the leaders of Caspian countries participated, took
place first time in the capital of Iran.
The international press was mainly interested in Russian president
Vladimir Putin’s visit to Tehran. It’s really a historical event, as
the other leaders of Russia has never paid an official visit to Iran
before, except of Stalin in 1943, when he participated in well-known
conference of Tehran, though Iran was a half-independent and
half-occupied territory, where the Northern part was controlled by
USSR, and the Southern part – by Great Britain.
Nevertheless, the interest in this gathering was big because of
straining relations about the nuclear programs of Tehran and the
increasing pressures by USA and European Union in the last months.
The visit of the Russian president to Iran was evaluated as a
contribution to Iranian policy.
Even before the start of gathering, many declared that the summit
would go on with anti-American and Iranian policy protecting slogans.
It became a reality, as the main result of the Summit was not the
progress in the issue of Caspian Sea, but the joint announcement of
the possible attack on Iran.
Actually, the Caspian Sea states signed a document that they reject to
provide their territories for possible gathering against the Islamic
Republic.
Signing of this document is a serious victory of Iranian
diplomacy. Iranians are under obligation to Russians for that success,
as the Russian contribution played a significant role in signing the
document.
It’s evident that the White House will not be satisfied with this
decision, as it is deprived of its opportunities to realize a military
policy in the region. Besides, the USA has all the basis to declare
that kind of steps of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan as anti-American.
Because of American financing those two countries succeed in creating
their own navy.
It is clear that contributing to the military reinforcement of
Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in the sea, the White House at the same time
expected to use the territories of those countries for spreading its
influence in the region.
It’s worth to mention that on Azerbaijani-Iranian border Pentagon set
about the construction of Radiolocation station, which heightened
Tehran’s displeasure.
Anyway, in this policy Russia’s attitude is of a great interest, as it
first declared about the joint use of Gabala station and then set
about a joint announcement in which the countries of the region
promise not to provide their territories in case of military actions
against Iran.
Nevertheless, acting as a defender of Iranian interests, Russia
strengthens its influence not only on that country, but also on
Caspian region that is of a strategic importance to it.
Besides, this policy is an answer to the rough attitude of USA of
having own anti-missile systems in East Europe.
Thus, Putin used Tehran Summit to strengthen its own position and
weaken the American policy in Caspian region.
By Armen Manvelian, translated by L.H