Which was most talked about last week: Iran, Georgia or Turkey?

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey's role at the present stage is quite clear and understandable - anxious for hegemony in the region and therefore trying to consolidate its relations with Iran, Syria, and of course Russia. Russia, in this context, is most important, because Moscow can play for the Islamist Turkey the same role that Washington played for the secular Turkey. As we have repeatedly mentioned, Ankara could not have so rigid standing in certain issues, not having a back support. Now this support is Russia, with which Ankara has definitely agreed on some, and especially energy issues. Moreover, it is especially Russia that can "help" Turkey to abandon her annoying and capricious "younger brother", who really runs the risk of remaining alone. The widely advertised show "The Birthday of Allahshukur Pashazade" with participation of Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus Cyril I and Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II was just a smokescreen behind which hides Azerbaijan, which has lost her former confidence. However, it is unclear why the Christian bishops should have arrived at the birthday of the Islamic leader. But it is already a rhetorical question.

In the outgoing week again stood out Turkey, inviting the President of Sudan, who had unleashed carnage in Darfur, to the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) summit. Despite all the requirements of EU and U.S. not to allow into the country criminals under international investigation, the President of Turkey contented himself to stating that he decides whom to accept, whom not. It sounds almost in unison with spells of Ilham Aliyev: "No project can be realized in the region without Azerbaijan."

Disputes over the Iranian nuclear program do not subside; moreover, they have received new impetus. As The Guardian reports (with reference to the confidential report of the International Atomic Energy Agency), Iran tested the two-point high-explosive thermonuclear design, which allowed the production of smaller and simpler warheads than older models. The British newspaper says, the UN's nuclear watchdog has asked Iran to explain evidence, suggesting that Iranian scientists have experimented with an advanced nuclear warhead design.

Documentation referring to experiments testing a two-point detonation design is part of the evidence of nuclear weaponisation gathered by the IAEA. The dossier, titled "Possible Military Dimensions of Iran's Nuclear Program", is drawn in part from reports submitted to it by western intelligence agencies. The Guardian also notes that the development by the Iranian scientists is described by nuclear experts as "breathtaking". "It raises the question of who supplied this to them. Did Abdul Qadeer Khan, [a Pakistani scientist who confessed in 2004 to running a nuclear smuggling ring] have access to this, or is it another player?" The Guardian writes.

The reason for suspicion that the technology of two-point implosion is not a self-invention of Tehran scholars is the too high level of its complexity. The fact is that the technology of two-point implosion, allowing to greatly improve the coefficient of efficiency of uranium or plutonium nuclei fission, is the latest achievement of the Western nuclear scientists. Sale and distribution of such technologies is prohibited by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Western fears about Iran's tests are also due to the fact that Tehran has not yet signed the agreement on the uranium enrichment program. It should just be added that the Iranian tests were carried out immediately after Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Tehran, where the Turkish Prime-Minister declared that Iran has the right to a nuclear program.

And finally, the possible opening of the check-point "Upper Lars" through mediation of Armenia. Official Tbilisi is ready for the opening of «Upper Lars» on the Georgia-Russia border near Kazbegi and awaits a signal from Russia. As Kakha Chitaya, Director of European Affairs Department of Georgia's Foreign Ministry stated at a press conference in Tbilisi, there have really been Armenian-mediated negotiations with Russia, but the latter is not ready for such talks. "No agreement has been reached so far, but we are ready for opening Upper Lars checkpoint after receiving Russia's response," declared Chitaya, adding that "Georgian side, in this case, first of all takes into consideration the hard situation faced by Armenia".

Against the general background, the regular visit of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair became a routine or non-binding visit: mediators are involved in the preparation of regular meetings at the level of foreign ministers or presidents. Nothing changes: Nagorno Karabakh was an independent republic and will always remain such.