A. Shakaryan Says No Matter how much the Economic Relations between Turkey and Russia Come Closer they will not have a Negative Effect on Armenia

YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS: No matter how much the economic relations between Turkey and Russia come closer they will not have a negative effect on Armenia, political analyst Artak Shakaryan said today at a meeting with journalists. According to him, the relations between Russia and Turkey can be only on economic level. “All of us understand that Russia and Turkey are competitors in geological-political respect. No matter how much their relations get warm on economic level Russia understands that the only trustworthy partner in the South Caucasus is Armenia,” A. Shakaryan said.

According to the Turkish analyst, Turkey had to change its foreign policy from 2002; it goes not only to Europe, but to Russia and Near East as well. Hence, one of the primary principles for Turkey is to make the policy multi-vector. “Turkey undertakes steps directed toward development of the regional policy trying to be more active in the Balkans and in the South Caucasus. Turkey does its best to be involved in regulation process of the Artsakh conflict,” A. Shakaryan said.

He stressed that up to now Turkey has not managed that, as it is not a co-chairing country of the OSCE Minsk Group. Armenia is unequivocally against the direct involvement of Turkey in the regulation process of the Karabakh conflict, Russia has stated about that too. The political analyst said he is of the opinion that Turkey will continue to undertake steps for being involved in that process.

In response to the question whether Armenia will have to go to concessions as a consequence of establishment of closer relations between Russia and Turkey, A. Shakaryan considered it impossible.

Referring to the progress of the regulation process of Armenia-Turkish relations, A. Shakaryan noted that activation will be noticed in 2014, when the elections in Armenia and Turkey are finished. Before that, according to him, certain steps are possible to be made by the two countries, but concrete changes will not be registered till 2014.