The processes occurring in the context of “Arab Spring”, developments around Iran’s nuclear program and the war in Syria have destabilized the Middle East region. Some scenarios point to possible disruption of the existing military and political balance in the region and strengthening of Turkey. Given Turkey’s position vis-à-vis Armenia (blockade of borders, unrelenting statements on the NKR problem, etc.), the ambitious plans of the Turkish neo-Ottoman elite (establishing an “Islamic NATO”, building nuclear weapons, and so on) turn such scenario into a serious challenge to Armenia. The adequate response to this must be the renewed efforts of Armenia in global integration processes directed by the civilizational factor – in the projects of the European and Eurasian Unions. Another challenge that Armenia faces is the demographic situation and diminishing intellectual/spiritual potential of the society. Addressing these problems is possible with a coordinated effort directed towards development of national strategic projects. It is worth establishing a Research Network Institute as an instrument for attaining these objectives.

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On August 8, 2012 president of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and president of Russian Federation Vladimir Putin agreed to commission their ministers to consider possibility of a closer involvement of Armenia in the processes of Eurasian integration between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. It is well known that on January 1, 2014 these countries plan to declare about the creation of the Eurasian Union. We also remember that before this meeting the Armenian politicians repeatedly stated that the main obstacle to the full-fledged participation of Armenia in that Customs Union is the absence of the land frontier with it. In response to this argument, which was sounded behind the scenes of the aforementioned Moscow meeting, one of the Russian observers stated that in case with Armenia the same advantages and preferences as in case with Kaliningrad Region could be used. However, discussion of the prospects of involvement of Armenia in the process of Eurasian integration began and the Moscow meeting triggered public discussion in our country. Studying attentively information on this discussions, statements of state figures and politicians, we would like to make first conclusions on the main directions of these discussions and main questions, the answers to which the society should get in order to form comprehensive opinion concerning these processes.

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Currently there are several different unions of states. While establishing such unions, member states pursue different aims: from financial and economic to military and political ones. For some time the union may exist due to the personal motives of the leaders, common policy and joint military interests. But in mid-term and especially long-term perspectives only the unions which are based on real competitive economy will be consistent enough. That is why for the correct setting of mid-term and long-term prospects of the unions of states, estimation of their financial and economic grounds acquires special topicality.
While carrying out the research we tried to estimate financial and economic stability of the Eurasian Union, outline plans of which were presented to the leaders of the member countries at the end of the last year.

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The treaty on creation of a free trade zone between the CIS states which has already been ratified by the National Assembly of Armenia can rightly be called remarkable event. It considerably changes the format of trade and economic relations in the post-Soviet space, because it provides creation of a new ground for trade and economic relations within the framework of the CIS. The new treaty will substitute the system of bilateral treaties and in consequence joint system of trade regime will be formed between the member countries. But the following fact may trigger concern: how the customs fees of the goods imported from some of the CIS countries should be compensated. Do we have the branches which development would earn revenue that allows us cover social and other expenses? Here we should be realistic and form the regional union on the fair grounds. In reality the absence of common border is considered to be a serious obstacle, because there are considerable differences in the aspect of both security and vulnerability.

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As it is known the People’s Republic of China carries out rather active policy in the Central Asia, which is very important geopolitical direction for the Celestial, and the Caucasus (both South and North). There are a number of researches devoted to these directions of the Chinese geopolitics. But till now there have been no researches on the policy of the Celestial in the Northern Caspian Sea region. Beijing carries out multi-vector policy in the Northern Caspian Sea region. Meanwhile the relations of China with both Kalmykia and Astrakhan Region have big potential for broadening and deepening. Taking into consideration strategic geographic location of the region, which is a kind of “bridge” between Central Asia and the Caucasus, it can be assumed that the Celestial will continue to deepen the relations with the Northern Caspian Sea region in the future. It is in the interests of both Beijing and the subjects of this region.

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By our estimations the situation in the U.S. military science remains ambiguous today. The experts mention that over the last ten years the priorities changed for several times and this have been connected with both advancing alternations in the geopolitical and geoeconomic situation and the peculiarities of the scientific and technical progress in recent years.
Analysis shows that by 2005-2007 the formation of the theoretical grounds of “revolution in the military science” – the direction of military policy initiated in the late 80s and early 90s of the 20th century – had been over. This “revolution in the military science” was designed to bring into compliance the military organization of the United States with qualitatively changing world. It embraced all the levels of military operation: military-political, strategic, and operational-tactical. This allowed speaking about the formation of a new form of war.

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From time immemorial religion has been a factor which united or split the society. Even in the modern society religious intolerance has caused fratricidal wars and disasters. At the same time religious intolerance (inside the society) is a serious resource in the hands of the states at variance in the aspect of splitting these countries and societies. From these considerations various missionary activities, which besides religious goals (propaganda and dissemination of their own religion and values), also pursue political aims, have been implemented.

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