International Analyst Network, NY
Nov 2 2008
RUSSIA AND TURKEY: DIPLOMATIC STRUGGLE FOR CAUCASUS
Prof.Dr. Ruben Safrastyan
02 Nov 2008
`Today Russia and Turkey are struggling for the South Caucasus, and
the Karabakh conflict is one of the most important fields of this
struggle,’ Director of the Oriental Studies Institute of the National
Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Turkologist Ruben Safrastyan told a
press conference today.
He considers that following the Russian-Georgian conflict the
geopolitical situation in the Caucasus has sharply changed in favor of
Russia. "Here Turkey is trying to resist Russia with diplomatic
activeness, e.g. with its proposal of establishing a Cooperation and
Security Platform. In this situation the two countries are struggling
for the South Caucasus," Safrastyan said.
According to him, both countries have undertaken the task of mediating
in the Karabakh conflict resolution.
`Turkey will not succeed in doing that until it recognizes the
Armenian Genocide and refuses from its policy of oppressing Armenia,’
Ruben Safrastyan said, adding that Turkey should establish normal
relations with Armenia by opening the border and paving the way for
condemning the Armenian Genocide.
‘In fact Russia has managed to overcome Turkey and in the context of
recent proposals of Abdullah Gul to become intermediary in the
Karabakh conflict settlement, Russian president’s suggestion about the
trilateral meeting proves my words’, – he said. Armenian and
Azerbaijani presidents’ readiness to take part in the talks in Moscow
on 2 November is also evidence of it. ‘Turkey was jealous to Russia’s
success in the region and undoubtedly is trying come forward with
certain initiatives on Nagornyy Karabakh, but Ankara will hardly
succeed’, – Safrastyan concluded.
ArmInfo, 2008-10-30; Public Radio of Armenia, 30.10.2008
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