November 1, 2007 - 16:18 AMT
Having no geopolitical importance, GUAM was formed to ruin CIS
"Georgia's domestic tensions will not change the balance of forces in the region, just as GUAM activities. Having no geopolitical importance, GUAM was formed to ruin the CIS," Ruben Safrastyan, Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies, told a news conference in Yerevan.

"The Saakashvili regime is alive thanks to U.S. financial assistance. Even if it collapses nothing will change in Georgia," he said.

When commenting on closure of U.S. and British Embassies in Azerbaijan, Dr Safrastyan said, "The Islamic factor is gaining weight in Azerbaijan. This is not anti-Americanism, this is radical Islamism. Although Baku's attempts to weaken it prove fruitless, wahhabits have no influence on political regime in the republic yet."