HRANT MELIK-SHAHNAZARYAN. ARMENIAN ARMY IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR OF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY SYSTEM
(Hrant is the son of well-known political analyst, founder and head of the analytical center “Voskanapat”, recently prematurely deceased Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan.)
In 2013 in the South Caucasus was a situational change, which was due to renewed geopolitical conflict between the West and Russia. Ukraine became the first victim of this rivalry. Then the Eastern Partnership program collapsed, the US-Russian cooperation in our region stopped, and finally – Syria.
From all of this – the first lesson for the Armenian side is the fact that the South Caucasus as a geopolitical unit, continues to have the impact of the processes taking place in the neighboring regions. Therefore it is impossible to build the country’s future without taking into account the realities that exist in the Middle East, Central Asia, in the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, the Balkans, etc.
Today, the epicenter of the geopolitical developments is Syria, a country that has always been the main ally of Armenia in the Middle East, where there are thousands of Armenians in the community.
The military actions of the Russian aviation against terrorist organizations marked the beginning of a new geopolitical process, the final aim of which, in addition to solving the terrorist problem in Syria, is the formation of a new international coalition in the Middle East, in contrast to the one led by the United States and it includes, in addition to the Western countries, Turkey Saudi Arabia, Israel, etc. The new coalition besides Russia, Syria will include also Iran, China, Lebanon, possibly Iraq, etc.
It is clear that each new success of the Russian-Syrian alliance could lead to counteraction of the Western alliance. So, in order to prevent the Russian military action in Syria, Turkey can make an attempt to destabilize the situation in the South Caucasus. And the shortest way is to raise a new wave of tension in the Armenian-Azerbaijani border through Azerbaijan’s hands. Or activate anti-Russian sentiment in the South Caucasus.
Having a strong army, and providing a relatively stable situation in the South Caucasus, Armenia, in fact contributes to the process of forming a new coalition in the Middle East. Ie Armenian army ensures not only the safety of the Armenian state, but also contributes to the successful course of the larger geopolitical processes. This is the reality that the Armenian diplomacy is required to record in the international platforms by separating our role and importance in the formation of a new global security system. In other words, we need our military potential fully “capitalized” in world politics, which, of course, will increase the role and significance of our country, as an important regional factor.
ANYONE WHO LOOKED ACROSS THE BORDER
Word of memory
Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan with whole heart was in love with the Armenian army, knew military science as better as professionals. As a member of the liberation movement, in his heart he held all the hardships and sufferings of the people of Artsakh on the path of independence.
I have always said and now repeat – to save the current borders of our country you must always look to the other side of the border, rather than at the border. Levon was a living embodiment of the idea of national borders, opening to the outside, not inside.
GARNIK ASATRYAN
Doctor of philological sciences, professor
