Despite Personal Relations, Turkey is Still the Ally of the USA: R.Safrastyan
“I don’t think Azerbaijan is ready to withdraw its aggressive behavior, which is apparent in the recent period. However, there is no background for it. Likewise behavior of Azerbaijan pursues a strategic purpose. It tries to change the status quo condition, which throughout years is existent around Karabakh issue settlement, i.e. this is not only simple aggressive policy, pursuing some domestic policy goal, but has strategic purposes within Azerbaijan as well,” Ruben Safrastyan, Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the RA NAS, told reporters today.
Pursuant the expert on Turkish studies, sharpening of Russia-Turkey relations may have certain implications on Azerbaijan’s behavior, as, according to it, Azerbaijan will strive to more sharpen the situation in the South Caucasus, on the border of Karabakh and Armenia, taking into consideration advice and appeals of its elder brother, by that contributing to implementation of Turkish programs, “As a result of Russia-Turkey sharpening, the latter may try to adopt a policy, which will lead to sharpening of situation in the South Caucasus, and as a tool tries to make use of Azerbaijan. Out of these criteria, I consider, currently it’s senseless anticipating sharp crucial positive changes on settlement of Artsakh issue.”
To the question by which Obamas behavior towards Erdogan is conditioned, and what message the USA wanted to pass to Turkey, he replied, “Erdogan, as an individual, regarding Obama, as close to that individual, originates negative emotions, and this is the result of Erdogan’s behavior. He is such a person, and many world leaders have appropriate approach towards his behavior. Obama also shows that. The second and the crucial side of this is that Turkey is of crucial geo-political importance for the USA, despite personal relations, Turkey is the ally of the USA in the Middle East, and generally, Turkey plays and active role within NATO, and I don’t observe any sign to change the situation.”
By Razmik Martirosyan
