The deployment of the Turkish peacekeepers in Lebanon has aroused a wave of protest among the Armenian community of the country. On the whole the military operations in Lebanon can have a serious impact upon the developments in the Near East. At PanARMENIAN.Net's request orientalist Suren Manukian comments on the situation in the Near East, its possible development and influence on the neighbor states.

Russia is still one of key players in the South Caucasus and, naturally, it is not going to withdraw. Indeed, by means of Georgia the country is being pushed out of the Caucasian mountain range. Turkey and the EU are going to enter the arena, to say nothing of the increased influence of the US. Chief of the Department of CIS Countries of the Russian Institute of Strategic Research, Candidate of Historical Sciences Alexander Skakov told PanARMENIAN.Net about regional issues.