RUSSIA-TURKEY-ARMENIA MEETING MAY BE HELD IN SOCHI
news.az
May 12 2010
Azerbaijan
Sinan Ogan A Turkish political scientist has commented on the visit
of the Russian president to Turkey.
"The visit of President Medvedev to Ankara is a proof of high level
of relations between Russia and Turkey", 1news.az quotes Sinan Ogan,
head of the Turkish Center of International Relations and Strategic
Analysis Turksam as saying.
I would not call these relations strategic, like I wouldn’t call them
like this in the case of the Turkish-American relations, but it is
a fact that these relations have reached a high level.
"Turkey maintains strategic relations only with two
countries-Azerbaijan and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Ankara can always rely on those countries and only good and high
level relations are possible with others. But at the same time Turkey
sometimes does not understand why Azerbaijan does not abolish visa
regime. I understand it well that the visa system between our countries
is formal but the declaration of its abolition on the official level
would have a different effect. I would ask our Azerbaijani brothers
to accelerate this process as this is important due to the abolition
of visa regime between Russia and Turjey", Ogan said
As for the influence of this meeting on the resolution of the
Karabakh conflict, Ogan said that the rapprochement between
Ankara and Moscow will be useful for Azerbaijan. "I am watching
the recent publications in Armenian mass media-they panic about the
Russian-Turkish rapprochement. Now most people in Russia understood
that the relations between the Russian and Turkish people were spoiled
because of Armenians. Armenians have been creating an image of Turkey
as an enemy state in Russia. But this period has passed and Turkey and
Russia got to know each other better. I do not think this meeting will
have any strong influence on the Karabakh conflict but according to
the information that I have, Moscow wants to take the initiative in
the process of the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement and the Karabakh
conflict settlement. The trilateral meeting between Russia, Turkey
and Armenia to discuss these problems may be held in Sochi next month".
"Also I would like to thank our Azerbaijani brothers for setting
Ataturk’s memorial in Baku. This fact proves our brotherhood and
friendship and you can be sure that Turkey will always be next to
Azerbaijan", he said.