A Turkish political scientist has commented on the visit of the Russian president to Turkey.
“The visit of President Medvedev to Ankara is a proof of high level of relations between Russia and Turkey”, 1news.az reported Sinan Ogan, head of the Turkish Center of International Relations and Strategic Analysis Turksam as saying.
I would not call these relations strategic, like I wouldn’t call them like this in the case of the Turkish-American relations, but it is a fact that these relations have reached a high level.
“Turkey maintains strategic relations only with two countries-Azerbaijan and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Ankara can always rely on those countries and only good and high level relations are possible with others. But at the same time Turkey sometimes does not understand why Azerbaijan does not abolish visa regime. I understand it well that the visa system between our countries is formal but the declaration of its abolition on the official level would have a different effect. I would ask our Azerbaijani brothers to accelerate this process as this is important due to the abolition of visa regime between Russia and Turjey”, Ogan said
As for the influence of this meeting on the resolution of the Karabakh conflict, Ogan said that the rapprochement between Ankara and Moscow will be useful for Azerbaijan. “I am watching the recent publications in Armenian mass media-they panic about the Russian-Turkish rapprochement. Now most people in Russia understood that the relations between the Russian and Turkish people were spoiled because of Armenians. Armenians have been creating an image of Turkey as an enemy state in Russia. But this period has passed and Turkey and Russia got to know each other better. I do not think this meeting will have any strong influence on the Karabakh conflict but according to the information that I have, Moscow wants to take the initiative in the process of the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement and the Karabakh conflict settlement. The trilateral meeting between Russia, Turkey and Armenia to discuss these problems may be held in Sochi next month”.
“Also I would like to thank our Azerbaijani brothers for setting Ataturk’s memorial in Baku. This fact proves our brotherhood and friendship and you can be sure that Turkey will always be next to Azerbaijan”, he said.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
