RUSSIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS STRATEGIC, EXPERT SAYS

news.am
May 10 2010
Armenia

In the context of close economic cooperation, Russian-Turkish relations
are acquiring strategic importance, the political analyst Yervand
Bozoyan told NEWS.am, commenting on the improving Russian-Turkish
relations.

He pointed out that Turkey has recently changed the emphases in its
relations with Turkey. The expert expressed confidence that that the
two states are not in strategic relations. "This is a fact," Bozoyan
said. He pointed out that as a result of the improving Russian-Turkish
relations Turkey will spare no efforts to take advantage of Russia’s
influence on Armenia. "This will first of all be demonstrated in the
Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, as it is Russia that is the major
force influencing Armenia. This is the reason for Turkey’s attempts
to encourage Moscow to play a more active role in the Nagorno-Karabakh
peace process. Turkey hopes Armenia will resort to serious concessions
in this case," Bozoyan said. He pointed out that Russia is unlikely
to force Armenia into concessions on Nagorno-Karabakh. "I will mean
disturbing the balance of forces," he said.

The expert once more stressed that Russia is Turkey’s only hope in
the context of the Armenian-Turkish and Nagorno-Karabakh "tangles,"
especially since Russia is interested in the improvement of
Armenian-Turkish relations.

On May 11, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is to pay an official
visit to Turkey. In Ankara, the Russian leader is to hold meetings
with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep
Erdogan and Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin.