Political scientist Rasim Musabeyov has commented on the established complex situation in the relations between the South Caucasus countries.
’There are several factors that taken together have led to the deterioration in relations between Turkey and the western world. Following the signing of the Armenian-Turkish protocols and the complexities in the process, the interests of several European countries have coincided and the countries raise the “genocide” issue in their parliaments in order to make clear their opposition to Turkey’s EU membership. In this way, they are trying to provoke Ankara into taking some harsh counter measures which will create new obstacles to Turkey’s EU accession,’ Musabeyov said.
’Armenians across the world and official Yerevan are another reason for the worsening of the situation around Turkey and the South Caucasus, as they are mobilizing their efforts to put mass pressure on Ankara via the world community. Yerevan has reached deadlock because of the updated Madrid principles. The Armenian authorities cannot agree to these updated principles as [President] Sargsyan and his team may lose their seats in the country’s leadership, but they do not dare to reject the Madrid principles either. Therefore, they are doing everything to provoke Turkey and Azerbaijan to some extraordinary steps in order to justify their rejection of the Armenian-Turkish protocols and the updated Madrid principles,’ the political scientist said.
’The US and Israeli attempts to put pressure on Ankara and bargain on the strategic and geopolitical issues concerning Washington and Tel Aviv are another cause of tensions over Turkey and the South Caucasus, including in the resolution of the Karabakh conflict. I think the West should not be playing like that with Turkey, which is in fact indifferent to where and how many times the countries raise the issue of the Armenian “genocide.” On the contrary, by such steps the West is merely allowing Turkey to justify its harsh actions in international politics. The West will lose more from this game both in the Islamic world, where Turkey is almost a key factor, and in the geopolitical issues that are vitally important for the United States, Europe and Israel,’ Musabeyov said.
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