Vitaly Naumkin: "South Caucasus lives in its own coordinate system"

The director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the RAS, Vitaly Naumkin, spoke about how the events in the Middle East may affect the countries of the South Caucasus.

The year 2013 in the region was marked by the struggle between two tendencies - power and diplomatic approaches to problem-solving. Through the efforts of Russia, foreign intervention in Syria was prevented and a political solution to the crisis became possible. An important breakthrough in the direction of Iran was achieved. Anchoring these successes can inspire hopes for rejection of the policy of threats and economic sanctions in favor of diplomacy and for the establishment of regional stability. The ousting of the "Muslim Brotherhood" in Egypt and Islamists' actions in other countries of the region again made the question of the place and role of Islam in politics relevant.