Congressional Research Service (CRS)
US Library of Congress
By Jim Zanotti
8 January 2013

Summary: Close U.S.-Israel relations drive congressional interest in upcoming elections for Israel’s 120-seat Knesset (parliament), scheduled for January 22, 2013. Israeli leadership decisions may have profound implications for matters of high U.S. priority, including potential threats from Iran and its non-state allies (such as Hezbollah and Hamas), issues of ongoing Israeli-Palestinian dispute, and political change in neighboring Arab states. The composition of a probable new coalition and government led by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu could significantly influence Israeli decision-making, politics, and relations with the outside world, including the United States. In turn, this could affect U.S. popularity, credibility, and ultimately—national security vis-à-vis the Middle East and more broadly.

“Israel: 2013 Election Preview”

2012 envisages Turkey’s return to Armenia-Turkey normalization process, political analyst, Regional Studies Center Director said. Richard Giragosian explained the aforesaid by more complicated nature of Turkey’s other foreign policy challenges.

http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/87674/

http://www.panarmenian.net/rus/news/87674/ (in Russian)

“Armenia has strengthened its positions in foreign policy, but much initiative is needed for maintaining these positions. Armenia’s positions became even stronger due to Azerbaijan’s mistakes,” Richard Giragosian, political analyst, director of the Yerevan-based Regional Studies Center (RSC), told a news conference in Yerevan. 

http://armradio.info/index.php?part=1&id=151306

“On the whole, compared with the previous year, Armenia has strengthened its positions in foreign policy, but much initiative is needed for maintaining these positions. Armenia’s positions became even stronger due to Azerbaijan’s mistakes,” said Richard Giragosian.

http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2012/12/26/kirakosyan/