Lebanon - Testing Area in Near EastNovember 8, 2006 - 04:19 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Lebanese events can become significant for the region. Lebanon is a testing area where models for the Near East are being worked out, orientalist Suren Manukian said in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net "It was Lebanon where the Islamists started the struggle against other states, the U.S. first tested point attacks in Lebanon, the West carried out the "cedar revolution" via the killing of Rafik Hariri. We can draw a parallel with Georgia which is being represented as a 'signboard of exemplary democracy.' The same is happening with Iraq," Manukian remarked. He reminded that October 11, 2006 a law on the federative administration of Iraq was adopted. "Practically it means that the Kurdish economy is fixed juridically. Federative Iraq is a step toward Kurdistan's independence, which will change the map of the whole region. But I should stress that Iraq and Georgia are 'reading-books' of propagandized democracy," he said. As for Azerbaijan, being a temporal state it nevertheless becomes an Islamic one gradually. "The Azeri leadership is trying to make the Islamization of the state manageable but the number of mosques is increasing. The Islamization tendency did not bypass Turkey either that is why Europe's refusal will be less painful for it now. This state would prefer to be a leader in the region rather than an EU member. By the way, ideology has undergone certain changes. Kemal Ataturk's slogan 'Towards to Europe' yielded to Recep Erdogan's slogan to 'return to the East," the Armenian scientist underscored. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Politico: Belarus delivered advanced weapons to Azerbaijan in 2018-2022 Belarus delivered advanced weapons to Armenia’s enemy even though both countries were supposedly allies in a defense pact. Armenia Security Council chief to attend Ukraine peace summit Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan will take part in the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland. Armenian govt. approves ratification of EAEU-Iran free trade deal At a meeting on Friday, June 14, the Armenian government approved the ratification of an EAEU free trade agreement with Iran. Deputy U.S. Secretary of State to arrive in Yerevan Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard R. Verma will travel to Yerevan, Armenia from June 17-19 to. |