Gyumri is a little city that is close to the state border between Turkey and Armenia. This tiny city with its deserted buildings gives an impression that time stuck at 20th century there. Although the name of the city is at the center of the relations of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Russia with each other.
Came to agenda after rapprochement between Turkey and Russia, reports about transfer of arms to the Russian military base in Gyumri through Turkish air space caused diplomatic crisis.
An Armenian expert claimed last week that Turkey and Russia has reached a secret agreement that allows Russia to use Turkish air corridor to supply arms for its military base in Gyumri, Armenia.
Claiming that Turkey opened its air space for usage of Russia, Head of Armenian National and Strategical Researches Center, Richard Giragosian claimed that there is a secret agreement between Turkey and Russia. “This is more towards development of relations between Turkey and Russia, than development of relations between Turkey and Armenia,” said he.
Claims about usage of Turkish air corridor by Russian forces to supply arms to Russian military base in Armenia also found space in Azerbaijani media. Azerbaijan reacted to the claims and Azeri media published reports that criticizes Turkey over the claims.
Following the publishment of statements of Armenian expert in Turkish, Azerbaijani and Armenian media, Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement and refuted the claims about a secret agreement between Turkey and Russia.
Richard Giragosian, Armenian expert who claimed that Turkey opened its air space to Russia forarmament of Armenia, is a former Dashnak Party member. An old nationalist, head of Armenian National and Strategical Researches Center, today supports the efforts for normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia. Giragosian considers that opening of borders between Turkey and Armenia will be towards interests of Russia before any other country.
On the other hand, Azerbaijani political scientists who spoke to 1News.az stated that such secret agreement between Turkey and Russia is not possible and that transfer of arms to Armenia from Russia is already being held over Iran.
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