The exchange of "courtesies" between Iran and Israel continues

PanARMENIAN.Net - At the antiracist conference in Geneva the President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused Israel of conducting racist policy and establishing a discrimination regime in "the territory of Palestine", thus confirming the worst fears of participants of the event. He emphasized that Israel is the most severe and most racist regime in modern world and laid the responsibility for the financial crisis on the USA, Europe and Israel. After the President of Iran declared that the sufferings of Jews during the Second World War were only a "pretext" for establishing Israel, the delegates of a number of western countries got outraged and left chamber.

Surely, in this entire bellicose rhetoric there exists an internal factor. The new government of Israel wants to show its voters that she will be tough with Iran and with the Islamic world in general, and will include even use of force if necessary. It is especially relevant to Israel, which with assistance from Turkey and a number of Arab countries, in the eyes of the world community became a "devil incarnate" after the operation "Cast lead". Besides, Israel risks drawing on itself the "disapproval" of the USA, which has taken a new course with Iran lately.

Presidential elections are due in Iran in summer and the country's future depends on how successful a behavior Ahmadinejad will exhibit. And though the President is elected by the Iranians, the world community, to all appearance, is not intended to tolerate his second period, if he is not determined to abate the tone of his statements. Unfortunately, the vicious practice that lingers from the times of Ayatollah Khomeini and which divided the entire world into Moslems and "shaitans", led to the present situation when Iran is regarded as a country that is capable of any 'feat'. This view is not entirely correct, yet it exists and Teheran should consider it.

Armenia cannot but be alarmed at all this, in view of the proximity of a possible new war in the region, that would affect her directly. Iran is a neighbor and a very serious partner in the region and Yerevan must directly or indirectly support the policy, conducted by the authorities of the country. Hardly is it possible to ignore the fact that in the essence Iran is the most reliable neighbor in the field of communications and support. Especially because in some issues of domestic policy Armenia supports Iran on account of her own interests, especially in the question of South Azerbaijan, to which so unreasonably pretends Baku.

As far as the position of official Yerevan towards Israel is concerned, it completely fits into the complementary foreign policy, which Armenia has been successfully conducting during the last decade. Certainly, it would be better, if the Jewish state took a more neutral position towards Armenia and the Armenians, without looking back at Ankara; however it is still early to discuss this issue.

How the Iran-Israeli confrontation will end is still difficult to say, but one thing is certain - no one wants a new war in the region, which is already on the verge of several local wars that threaten to plunge the Great Near East into chaos. However, this is the most pessimistic prediction, which, let us hope, will never come true. Most likely, the sides will limit themselves to exchanging accusations, until… they come to an agreement.

Karine Ter-Sahakyan