OPENING OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER SHOULD BE A RUSSIAN BUT NOT A U.S. PROJECT
PanARMENIAN.Net
10.09.2008 16:48 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Some warming between Yerevan and Ankara is
favorable. The Armenian-Turkish relations need gradual normalization,
Andrey Areshev, expert at Strategic Culture Foundation said in an
interview with PanARMENIAN.Net.
"Consultations of diplomats are no longer a secret. Russian
concessionaires of the Armenian Railways announced readiness to
reconstruct Kars-Gyumri line. Foreign media circulated information
that some oil companies negotiate construction of a gas pipeline
with Armenia. The Ayrum-Gyumri-Akhuryan route (bypassing Georgia)
is being discussed. Certainly, these are just variants but Georgia’s
destructive role in the region becomes more and more evident not only
for Russia or Iran but also for U.S. allies, such as Turkey, and the
key EU countries, which are concerned over their energy security,"
he said.
"Possible normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations and partial
opening of the border should not be used as an argument for withdrawal
of the Russian military base from Armenia. Furthermore, opening of the
border should be a Russian but not a U.S. project," Areshev emphasized.
"The Armenian authorities’ flirtation with the U.S. and NATO, the
forthcoming joint exercise in September are quite understandable
as a part of complementary policy pursued by the republic. However,
it’s clear that the west will use Caucasian nations as active storage
(Georgia is a vivid example) Cooling with Russia in exchange for
attractive offers can have deplorable consequences for Armenia and
NKR’s security. The Karabakh conflict can’t be resolved with NATO’s
assistance. Partial restoration of Russia’s positions in the Caucasus,
Turkey and Iran’s firm opposition to resumption of hostilities may
push Baku to search for more adequate way to resolve the Karabakh
conflict. However, it will not happen before the presidential election
in Azerbaijan," he concluded.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
