Director of the Turkish Research Program at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Soner Cagaptay stated that Moscow administration targets creating tension by paying support to the process of rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia.

“Russia wants to alienate Georgia and pretends that it supports process of normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia,” said the expert.

“Although Turkey-Armenia rapprochement seems like it conflicts with the interests of Russia, the interest of Russia lays under tension in the relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Russia wants Turkish-Azerbaijani ties to weaken for Azerbaijan to get closer to the policies of Russia,” Cagaptay said.

Director of the Turkish Research Program at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Soner Cagaptay said that the reason that Russia supports normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia is the possibility that Armenia normalization may damage Turkish-Azerbaijani ties. Cagaptay said, “If Armenia finds a new way through Europe over Turkey and if Turkey establishes an alternative energy corridor other than the one that passes over Georgia, those would be conflicting with the interests of Russia. But then why Russia supports Turkey-Armenia normalization? Russia’s Caucasus policies are established on preventing construction of petroleum and natural gas pipelines that will transfer natural sources of Khazar region to World markets. In this aspect, an independent Georgia conflicts withthe interests of Russia. Russia targets to terminate independence of Georgia. On the other hand, they pretend that they are supporting the process of normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia. Although Turkey-Armenia rapprochement seems like it conflicts with the interests of Russia, the interest of Russia lays under tension in the relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Russia wants Turkish-Azerbaijani ties to weaken for Azerbaijan to get closer to the policies of Russia.

Armenia will not leave the circle that Russia draws forthe countryeven if the ties with Turkey are normalized. And therefore, normalization of Armenia relations will increase the influence of Russia on Azerbaijan. Meantime Georgia will be totally isolated.“