RUBEN SAFRASTYAN: REGIONAL RIVALRY BETWEEN MOSCOW AND ANKARA CONTINUES

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 11, 2010 – 12:59 AMT 07:59 GMT

Despite close economic ties, regional rivalry between Moscow and
Ankara continues, an Armenian professor said.

"This competition is a bit alleviated but persists," Ruben Safrastyan,
director of the RA NAS Institute of Oriental Studies told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

He emphasized that Ankara and Moscow practise different geo-strategic
approaches in the region. "While Russia tries to maintain the status
quo, which is in Armenia’s interests as well, Turkey seeks to alter
it," he said.

As to economic cooperation, prof. Safrastyan said it’s the major
component of the Russian-Turkish cooperation.