Russia-Turkey Rapprochement won’t Essentially Change the Situation on NK Conflict Zone: Malashenko
“Russia-Turkey rapprochement will stabilize the situation in the region, including in the South Caucasus,” Alexey Malashenko, member of the Scientific Council of the Moscow Carnegie Center, Chairman of the Religion, Society and Security Program, political analyst, told 168.am touching upon perspectives for the settlement of Russia-Turkey relations and their impact on NK conflict.
Alexey Malashenko mentioned why Turkey’s president Erdogan decided to settle relations with Russia.
According to the Russian analyst situation around Turkey has dramatically changed throughout recent months—EU-Turkey relations, situation inside the country and in Syria have worsened, Erdogan welcomed the resolution of Great Britain to withdraw from the EU. In his conviction by settling relations with Russia, Turkey will resolve a few issues, major of which is defaming Europe and introducing it as a structure, from which EU member countries flee.
“Erdogan took a bold and unexpected step, clearly realizing what benefits it may gain, and by that step it surprised Russia. Currently the Russian side should understand how it should reflect to Turkey’s attempts of rapprochement, as it shouldn’t neither get excited nor lose Turkey, as Russia-Turkey relations won’t overcome another crisis, Turkey shouldn’t be “threatened” and instigated by acknowledging Erdogan’s sore spots.
Although in this period Russian diplomacy appeared with rather tough formulations, attempting to provide proof for Turkey-Islamic State cooperation. All this should be resolved, which is not easy for Russia.
However, in my conviction currently rapprochement is beneficial for Moscow, as this may become a card in Russia’s hands regarding relations with Europe and the Middle East,” Malashenko said, attempting to qualify rapprochement as mutually beneficial both for Russia and Turkey. In the latter’s conviction it’s yet difficult to say whether relations of both states will return to their previous volumes or not. He considers some issues need to be settled.
Aleksey Malashenko considers that Russia-Turkey reconciliation will be positively reflected in the region, including on the situation in the South Caucasus, as Russia-Turkey crisis imported dividing lines, camps in NK conflict. According to him, they will be eliminated. “Saying that this will provide essential changes on the situation on NK conflict zone won’t be right, as Turkey is basically far from NK conflict settlement process, Russia is a mediator, it’ll continue its traditional policy and current status-quo will be maintained, and any change won’t be recorded to that end,” Malashenko said.
To the question whether deals, resolution in favor of Armenia are possible during Russia-Turkey rapprochement, particularly, when Russian plans of NK conflict settlement with pro-Azerbaijani components are being touched upon, Malashenko replied, that Russia continues to maintain its neutral position, supporting neither side, it’s interested in neither Armenia’s nor Azerbaijan’s conflict with leading positions. In his words, Russia’s mediation efforts are directed to maintenance of the status quo without granting priority to any party to the conflict. “In this process I haven’t observed any change up to now,” he concluded.
By Araks Martirosyan
