Noyan Tapan News Agency
Sept 15 2006
ARMEN RUSTAMIAN: ISOLATION BY NEIGHBOR COUNTRIES IS THREAT NUMBER ONE
FACED BY ARMENIA
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Development of
democracy, solution to the Nagorno Karabakh problem and
neutralization of foreign threats are the three main challenges faced
by Armenia. Armen Rustamian, Chairman of RA NA Standing Committee on
Foreign Relations, representative of ARF Dashnaktsutiun Armenian
Supreme Body, expressed such an opinion at the September 15 press
conference.
In his words, there are foreign threats not only before Armenia, but
also all other countries making part of the former Soviet Union. "All
countries had a problem of strengthening of independence, a problem
of independent creation of guarantees. But Armenia has its peculiar
challenges conditioned by its geographical position and relations
with its neighbors," Rustamian said.
In the speaker’s words, threat number one is the neighbor countries’
policy aimed at Armenia’s isolation. In his words, when Armenia was
member of different international organizations and signed
multi-lateral agreements, Azerbaijan’s reservations pursuing the goal
to isolate Armenia were striking. Today also, in Rustamian’s
affirmation, relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan remind of a
"cold war" and relations with Turkey are rather complicated. "It will
be possible to contribute to establishment of regional security only
in case of normalization of these relations," the parliamentary
committee chairman is convinced.
Another challenges, as Armen Rustamian said, are connected with the
so-called "Iranian dossier:" it can become a serious threat for
Armenia if the issue connected with the Iranian nuclear programs is
solved through force. "God forbid if a civil war breaks out in Iran.
We have a single completely operating land border with Iran and this
border can be endangered," the speaker emphasized.