AZERBAIJANI POLITICAL EXPERT: IN MOSCOW ERDOGAN RECEIVED THE SAME ANSWER THAT HE RECEIVED IN WASHINGTON AND PARIS
AZG DAILY
19-01-2010
Opinion
Commenting on the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s visit to
Russia Azerbaijani political expert Rasim Agayev in his interview
to Azerbaijani Day.Az said, "I think that there he will get detailed
information about talks Erdogan held in Moscow. He will learn Russia’s
final opinion. But I think that Moscow will hold talks with Sargsyan
taking into account Azerbaijan’s opinion, because the past six months
have seen some well-meaning moves between Russia and Azerbaijan
which Moscow cannot ignore". But after answering the question "How
do you generally assess Turkish PM Erdogan’s Moscow trip?" it becomes
evident that the above-mentioned words are only for inner consumption
in order to calm down the Azerbaijani society’s tension. Answering
the journalist’s question he said, "This visit marks a new stage
in development of Russian-Turkish relations. Now Turkey is almost
Russia’s major economic partner. Turkey has become a leading power in
the region. I think the Turkish-Russian rapprochement will contribute
a significant deterrent element to the conflict zones which is so rich
in our region. In this context, as to the Karabakh issue, which is
directly linked with the Armenian-Turkish normalization, Turkey has
been sufficiently principled and consistent in its actions.But it
is well known that the principle of a blockade used by any country
against the other ends sooner or later or yields no results. To
be frank, unresolved Karabakh conflict and its linkage to the
Turkish-Armenian relations impedes Turkey to implement its strategic
plans. I mean its relations and strategy towards the European Union,
and so on. Normalized relations with Armenia can untie Turkey’s hands.
It seems to me that in Moscow Erdogan received the same answer
that he received in Washington and Paris. The leading powers share
the same opinion. They are not inclined to link normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations with the Karabakh issue.I do not think
that Turkey will not be able to resist this view of the leading powers.
To the question, "What will Turkey do in this case?" the Azerbaijani
expert concluded, "I believe that Turkey will eventually accept that,
that is, will develop the negotiating process with Armenia or ratify
the protocols. It has no other option. I think that while speaking
of a unified Azerbaijani-Turkish policy and partnership, one must
not forget that there is also common Turkic interests. I think that
everything should be reconsidered more seriously to reach some common
compromise. In my view, Turkey needs help to find compromise with
Russia and western countries".