RUBEN SAFRASTIAN: TURKEY TRIES TO REANIMATE ITS IDEAFIX ABOUT MEDIATION IN NAGORNO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 13 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “In my opinion,
Turkey is trying to receive dividents from the fact that the U.S. is
interested in it in connection with the possible military operations
against Iran,” Ruben Safrastian, candidate of historical sciences,
Head of the Department of Turkey of the Institute of Oriental Studies
of RA National Academy of Sciences, declared in his interview to Noyan
Tapan correspondent. According to him, Turkey is trying to derive
benefit from the formed situation and is carrying out bargaining,
which in many respects is aimed at satisfaction of its interests. In
particular, Turkey is trying to reanimate its old ideafix, according
to which it can become a mediator in the settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict in spite of the fact that Armenia has always
treated this negatively. Ruben Safrastian reminded that in 2001 former
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismayil Jem offered Turkey’s mediation in
the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

“Today Turkey, making use of the interest of the U.S. in itself in
connection with the Iranian crisis, is trying to press upon Armenia
with the support of the U.S. and to squeeze itself into the process of
settlement,” the scientist declared. According to Ruben Safrastian,
in Turkey they consider that one of the main ways of strengthening
its influence in the South Caucasus is the mediation services in the
Nagorno Karabakh issue. In this context Turkey is also interested
in including its military contingent in the peacekeeping forces in
the zone of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The scientist said that
in the respect of increasing its influence in the South Caucasus
Turkey has made progress only in Georgia that expresses willingness
to join NATO. However, the Turks have no progress either in Armenia
or in Azerbaijan. As for the latter, the expert reminded: “To all
appearances, the Turks have lost interest in Azerbaijan as they have
no chances to strengthen their influence in Azerbaijan, in any case,
under Ilham Aliyev. Of course, there is the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline,
there is Turkish capital in Azerbaijan, military and political
cooperation, but the influence of the U.S., Russia and Iran becomes
more and more strong in Azerbaijan”.