TBILISI: Turkey Waits For Russia To Make A Move On Karabakh

TURKEY WAITS FOR RUSSIA TO MAKE A MOVE ON KARABAKH

The Messenger
March 2 2010
Georgia

Ankara has accepted that no major moves can be made in the South
Caucasus without Russia’s involvement, particularly in the so-called
frozen conflicts, Karabakh above all. Now Turkey is attempting to
repair relations with Armenia it expects Moscow will help facilitate
at least a partial regulation of the Karabakh conflict so this process
can continue unhindered.

Armenia’s economic and defence problems have become a serious headache
for The Kremlin recently, says Azeri newspaper Zerkalo, and Moscow
is therefore seeking a way to resolve the conflict which has created
these problems, which should be good news for Turkey.

Ankara welcomed EU involvement in stopping the Russian aggression of
August 2008 in Georgia but was not very happy to allow US Navy vessels
to pass through the Bosporus to enter the Black Sea. Ankara is clearly
irritated by certain US steps in the region and the pressure it tries
to put on Turkey.