YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS. Turkish professor Cengiz Aktar says the international community clearly knows that Azerbaijan started the military operations. “I have heard various interpretations over the recent escalation of the Karabakh conflict, however, I can say the following: Turkey does not play a role in the South Caucasus: of course, it is possible that Turkish military forces were involved or cooperated with the Azerbaijani army, we don’t know, however, to think that the escalation was a Turkish response to Russia, and that’s why Turkey provoked the war, I think, it is an exaggeration”, he stated.

He said despite the 25 year presence of the Minsk Group, Russia dictates the rules in the region.

“Of course, there are other players as well, such as Israel. People talk about the military industry of Israel, however, I think that Russia plays a key role in the region”, Turkish professor stated.

Overnight May 1-2 Azerbaijan unleashed large-scale military operations along the entire length of the Nagorno Karabakh line of contact. After four-day war the Azerbaijani armed forces were thrown back having 300-400 human and military equipment losses. The ceasefire agreement was reached on April 5 in Moscow by the Chiefs of the General Staff of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Armed forces.