RUSSIA AND OPENING OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER

The Messenger
July 22 2011
Georgia

Azeri political analyst Vafa Guluzade thinks that the west does
not realize that even if Azerbaijan agrees to the opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border, Moscow will not. The west is ignoring the
possibility that if this border is opened, Russia will lose its
influence over the south Caucasus, so of course privately it is
against this process and it can easily influence decisions of Armenia.

Meanwhile despite immense pressure from the west on Turkey it is
doubtful that Ankara would make any concessions before opening the
Turkish – Armenian border without settling fairly the conflict in
Karabakh. So if the west wants to really solve the situation it
should put pressure on Moscow rather than on Ankara or Baku. The key
to the Karabakh conflict solution is in the Kremlin. Russia takes many
benefits from Armenia’s blockade and the state of war between Armenia
and Azerbaijan, thus Moscow maintains its influence over the region.

It should be realized by the west, thinks Guluzade, that Armenia’s
problems are not emanating from Turkey and Azerbaijan but mainly
from Moscow.