July 3, 2012 - 19:07 AMT
Armenia must adapt itself to evolving situation in Syria – expert

Though unable to affect Syria crisis, Armenia must adapt itself to rapidly evolving situation, according to Caucasus Institute director, political expert Alexander Inskandaryan.

“What’s happening in Syria can be characterized as humanitarian disaster,” the expert said during Yerevan-Moscow TV spacebridge “New Middle Eastern Realities: Challenges to Moscow and Yerevan.”

“The development of events in Syria is crucial to Armenia. Thousands of ethnic Armenians arrive in their historic homeland to ask for Armenian citizenship. In 2012, their number rose to 2000. The figure is only for those asking for citizenship, it would drastically increase were I to cite those who ask for residence permit or arrive as guests,” the expert said.

“Recently, Syrian factor has been playing a serious role in Armenia’s real estate market. 60 000-person Armenian community of Syria is a serious figure for a country like ours,” the expert noted.

“Syria is very important to Middle East. Whatever is happening in the country is to some extent due to the regional role of Turkey and Iran. Such a reformatting of the region has a major importance to Armenia and Russia,” he concluded.