Interviews Kamer Kasim, professor and Deputy Director of Turkey-based International Organization for Strategic Studies.
Q: Azerbaijan and Turkey are expected to sign intergovernmental agreement on transit of natural gas this September. What significance this agreement will carry for the region?
A: The intergovernmental agreement between Azerbaijan and Turkey, designed for the transit of Azerbaijani gas to Europe, will link the two countries fully in terms of energy. The rational solution for Azerbaijan, which has rich energy reserves, but that does not have access to world markets via the sea, is the territories of friendly states that are the most reliable route for export of its natural resources. Relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey, marked by the formula of "One nation - two states", will become more interconnected and strong after gas transit agreement is signed between them.
Turkey and Azerbaijan built such interrelated and strong relations even while implementing Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project. These energy pipelines will even more strengthen strategic ties between the two countries. At the same time, Azerbaijan’s energy exports to Europe through Turkey will foster relations between Azerbaijan and Europe even more. This may change the attitude and position of some European states to occupation of Azerbaijani lands.
Q: What role of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway to be launched in 2012 will play in development of the region?
A: Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will play a significant role in increasing volume of trade between countries in the region. At the same time, this railroad will connect Azerbaijan and Georgia to Europe. Without a doubt, this project will pave the way for economic integration between Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Q: Armenia remains on the sidelines of the regional projects. What damage will this country suffer due to its occupation policy?
A: Armenia, who remains on the sidelines of these regional projects, will pay for its occupation policies. The Armenian lobby in the United States did much to hamper construction of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad.
Construction of this railway will revive Silk Way that will link the region with the Central Asia. Armenia remains outside energy and transportation routes laid in the region increasingly leading to the isolation of this country. Thus, all these factors force Armenia to surrender its sovereignty to Russia at an alarming level. The more Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia are developed and integrated into the region, the more Armenia remains outside of these processes.
Q: What benefits Armenia may get if it renounces its traditional policies?
A: Once Armenia chooses policy distinctive from its approach to Nagorno Karabakh issue, it will open her way to the process of rapprochement with the West. There can be no talk of peace and stability in the Caucasus, as long as the lands of Azerbaijan are still occupied. A situation of "frozen conflict" can change at any time and lead to a resumption of hostilities. Countries wishing to obtain economic benefit from integration of the Caucasus to Europe need to make efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem.
Lala B.
News.Az
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