Azerbaijani policy to back-fire: Manvel Sargsyan
16:06 / 10/17/2009

Azerbaijan attempts to persuade Turkey not to neglect Baku’s
interests, however it is faulty approach and will only impede
Azerbaijani-Turkish relations, Manvel Sargsyan, expert of the Armenian
Center for National and International Studies told NEWS.am.

Azerbaijan and Russia signed agreement on gas supply that openly
contradicts with Turkey’s interests the same day when Armenia-Turkey
football match took place. Yesterday Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan rejected Turkey’s proposal to transit
the gas supply to Europe and seeks for alternative routes. Anti-Turkey
protests were also held in Baku today. Turkish flags were removed from
Martyr alley in Baku.

`I consider anti-Turkish hysteria can deepen more, as Azerbaijan has
recently tried to link its successful actions with Turkey’s
assistance. It is natural that Armenian-Turkish relations’
reconciliation threatens Azerbaijan. A number of statements was made,
Russian-Azerbaijani political and economic games are the logical
continuation of it,’ the expert underlined, adding `I believe they
will try to affect Turkish Parliament members to continue laying down
Karabakh as precondition in Armenia-Turkey relations.’

However, Manvel Sargsyan deems this policy is advantageous for
Azerbaijan. `The process is much deeper and great powers, including
Russia are utterly interested in it. Azerbaijan has no other way. They
will do their best, but Azerbaijani plan will back-fire. Azeris should
try to carry out independent policy but to persuade Turkey to put away
its national interests and solve local problems. It is wrongful
approach, that will hinder Turkish-Azerbaijani relations,’ the expert
concluded.