Turkish Daily News

The recent conflict in Georgia is one of the reasons the Turkish president decided to accept his Armenian counterpart’s invitation to travel to Armenia, an Armenian expert said in a recent interview.

“Turkey thought it could pursue its policies in the Caucasus via its alliance with Azerbaijan and Georgia, excluding Armenia. However the latest developments have shaken the balances, so Turkey is searching for new opportunities,” Prof. Ruben Safrastyan from the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia told the Turkish Daily News this week. “Relations with Armenia have a great importance in this respect,” he maintained.

Defining Armenian President Serge Sarkisian’s invitation to his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gül, to watch a football game between the two countries’ national teams as an “important step,” Safrastyan said Armenia would never give up its claims of genocide in the Ottoman Empire.

“Genocide is an issue proven both by Armenia and the world. The documents that would make redundant all discussions are in the archives. The only problem is Turkey’s official history,” he said. Still Safrastyan maintained that the genocide problem should not hinder bilateral relations.

Evaluating the conflict in the Caucasus, Safrastyan said: “Determining their own destinies, communities declared their independence in Georgia. Karabakh could also declare independence within one year.”

“Azerbaijan has a great importance for Turkey, but a country like Turkey cannot disregard its interests for Azerbaijan,” Safrastyan said.

Commenting on Russia’s position in the region, Safrastyan said the country would use Azerbaijani oil to its benefit. “The West is not aware of Russia’s power. It has the power to challenge the world. Intense developments await the Caucasus,” he said, claiming that a third world war would erupt in the East.

“A small conflict in Georgia has reshaped the world’s map,” he said.

Source: www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=114540

Filed under: Turkish Press