Turkey is trying to step up its policy in South Caucasus
07.09.2018,
16:27
Turkey is taking concrete steps to step up its policy in the South Caucasus, Ruben Safrastyan, the director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, said today.
YEREVAN, September 7. /ARKA/. Turkey is taking concrete steps to step up its policy in the South Caucasus, Ruben Safrastyan, the director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, said today.
"Despite its almost partnership-like relations with Russia when it comes to Syria, Turkey is playing its own game in the South Caucasus, looking for reasons and opportunities to get involved in the regional processes. Taking advantage of Russia's involvement in the Syrian conflict, Turkey is trying to implement its plans with the help of Azerbaijan," he said at a press conference.
According to Safrastyan, Ankara’s efforts to deploy a military base in Azerbaijan’s exclave Nakhichevan is an obvious example of Turkey’s intensified policy in the region.
Reports in Turkish media said that Turkey could deploy a third base abroad after Somalia and Qatar in the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan. "The establishment of the Turkish base in Nakhichevan is a direct threat not only to Armenia, but also to Russia," Safrastyan said.
Another obvious indicator of the activated Turkish policy in the region, according to Safrastyan are the frequent cases of violation of the state border of Armenia from the Turkish side by citizens of third countries.
"Strangely, the attempts to cross the border were not stopped by the Turkish border guards, which means that Turkey is making a probe into the current level of Armenian-Russian relations and the security system on this part of the border. I do not consider these border breaches accidental," he said.
Safrastyan said also that Azerbaijan’s lately expressed willingness to cooperate with the Russia –led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and Eurasian Economic Union is initiated by Turkey.
"Turkey is checking the organization for stability, but it will not allow direct cooperation between Azerbaijan and CSTO because Azerbaijan is in the sphere of its military interests,’ said Safrastyan.
According to reports in Azerbaijani mass media, Baku may consider applying for membership in the CSTO, because that would increase chances of a favorable settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. However, on August 28, a spokesperson for Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Armenia, which is a CSTO member, would use its right to veto Azerbaijan’s possible bid to join the military pact. -0-
"Despite its almost partnership-like relations with Russia when it comes to Syria, Turkey is playing its own game in the South Caucasus, looking for reasons and opportunities to get involved in the regional processes. Taking advantage of Russia's involvement in the Syrian conflict, Turkey is trying to implement its plans with the help of Azerbaijan," he said at a press conference.
According to Safrastyan, Ankara’s efforts to deploy a military base in Azerbaijan’s exclave Nakhichevan is an obvious example of Turkey’s intensified policy in the region.
Reports in Turkish media said that Turkey could deploy a third base abroad after Somalia and Qatar in the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan. "The establishment of the Turkish base in Nakhichevan is a direct threat not only to Armenia, but also to Russia," Safrastyan said.
Another obvious indicator of the activated Turkish policy in the region, according to Safrastyan are the frequent cases of violation of the state border of Armenia from the Turkish side by citizens of third countries.
"Strangely, the attempts to cross the border were not stopped by the Turkish border guards, which means that Turkey is making a probe into the current level of Armenian-Russian relations and the security system on this part of the border. I do not consider these border breaches accidental," he said.
Safrastyan said also that Azerbaijan’s lately expressed willingness to cooperate with the Russia –led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and Eurasian Economic Union is initiated by Turkey.
"Turkey is checking the organization for stability, but it will not allow direct cooperation between Azerbaijan and CSTO because Azerbaijan is in the sphere of its military interests,’ said Safrastyan.
According to reports in Azerbaijani mass media, Baku may consider applying for membership in the CSTO, because that would increase chances of a favorable settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. However, on August 28, a spokesperson for Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Armenia, which is a CSTO member, would use its right to veto Azerbaijan’s possible bid to join the military pact. -0-
