'ERDOGAN'S PRESIDENCY NOT TO CHANGE TURKEY'S POLICY IN THE REGION'
news.az
May 12 2011
Azerbaijan
News.Az interviews Nizami Jafarov, chairman of the parliamentary
committee for culture in Milli Majlis.
Do you expect major changes in official Ankara's policy on the region,
including on Azerbaijan in case Recep Tayyip Erdogan is elected the
Turkish president during the next year elections?
The Turkish authorities demonstrate some unity in approaches to a
raft of issues, including regional ones regardless of who is in power
in Turkey.
Both Erdogan and any other person supported by Erdogan and the ruling
party of Justice and Development may run for presidency in Turkey. In
other words, in current political situation in Turkey, we can only
speak about the election of a man that will be nominated by the ruling
party. It means that Turkey's current policy will remain changeless
after the presidential elections in this country. In other words,
the policy applied by Erdogan, that is the policy of the party of
Justice and Development, will see no changes toward Azerbaijan.
And what changes may occur in Turkish-Armenian relations in case
Erdogan is elected?
Earlier we witnessed some progress in relations between Turkey and
Armenia. So, practically, the ruling party of Justice and Development
headed with Erdogan made some gestures to Armenia. But it seems that
Turkey does not know Armenia well, which is why it faces the bitter
results of its gestures. Turkey that expressed the intention to settle
problems in the South Caucasus diplomatically had to face unforeseen
problems. In other words, all these gestures proved ineffective making
the ruling party revise their policy. Therefore, I expect Turkey
not to repeat its gestures toward Armenia but to put some pressure
on it. It is clear that the more gestures are shown to the aggressor
and its backing forces, the worse. Probably, this formula has already
influenced the opinion of the Party of Justice and Development.
The infamous website Wikileaks has declassified new documents unveiling
US Secretary Hillary Clinton's concerns about Turkey's consolidation
and Ankara's plans to create nuclear weapon. What can be the impact
of Turkey's plans on the region?
Strengthening of any country may cause concerns throughout the world.
But it does not mean that countries must not consolidate.
As to concerns of superpowers about Turkey's consolidation, it all
comes from opportunistic considerations. The world shows no fears
over Turkey's strengthening, since Turkey is not a patriarchal country
or ruled by a single person. It is a democratic country, integrating
toward peace. But some countries in the West claim to use Turkey for
their purposes. In this case I would not say that those countries
are the powers that seek to create harmony in the world.
And how can Turkey' consolidation influence Turkey's position in
the region?
Turkey is Azerbaijan's friend and strategic ally. Additionally,
the relations between the Turkish and Azerbaijani peoples, described
as relations between representatives of one nation, rely on strong
grounds and ethnic unity. For this reason, Turkey's consolidation
will always be in Azerbaijan's interests.
How may the South Caucasus region benefit from improvement of
Turkish-Russian relations that creates concerns in Armenia?
Naturally that Turkey has its interests in Russia. A part of these
interests is mostly linked to the fact that Russia accounts for large
Turkic ethnicities. Furthermore, Turkey and Russia feel the need
for development of bilateral ties with respect to mutual interest in
those countries.
In turn, Turkey is of interest to Russia as a country with developed
business. Turkish businessmen started their businesses widely in
Russia. All the same, Russia's attitude toward Turkey has never been
unambiguous. Russia, as a big country, always laid the emphasis with
relations with Turkey when it was necessary to secure its interests
in the East.
As for Armenia, it is a country that shows concerns on any issue.
Armenia is a formation that seeks to use any tensions in international
relations. Armenia's overall attitude to global problems is not
standard or complying with norms of international law. For this very
reason, Armenia has always showed concerns about any rapprochement
between Russia and Turkey.
news.az
May 12 2011
Azerbaijan
News.Az interviews Nizami Jafarov, chairman of the parliamentary
committee for culture in Milli Majlis.
Do you expect major changes in official Ankara's policy on the region,
including on Azerbaijan in case Recep Tayyip Erdogan is elected the
Turkish president during the next year elections?
The Turkish authorities demonstrate some unity in approaches to a
raft of issues, including regional ones regardless of who is in power
in Turkey.
Both Erdogan and any other person supported by Erdogan and the ruling
party of Justice and Development may run for presidency in Turkey. In
other words, in current political situation in Turkey, we can only
speak about the election of a man that will be nominated by the ruling
party. It means that Turkey's current policy will remain changeless
after the presidential elections in this country. In other words,
the policy applied by Erdogan, that is the policy of the party of
Justice and Development, will see no changes toward Azerbaijan.
And what changes may occur in Turkish-Armenian relations in case
Erdogan is elected?
Earlier we witnessed some progress in relations between Turkey and
Armenia. So, practically, the ruling party of Justice and Development
headed with Erdogan made some gestures to Armenia. But it seems that
Turkey does not know Armenia well, which is why it faces the bitter
results of its gestures. Turkey that expressed the intention to settle
problems in the South Caucasus diplomatically had to face unforeseen
problems. In other words, all these gestures proved ineffective making
the ruling party revise their policy. Therefore, I expect Turkey
not to repeat its gestures toward Armenia but to put some pressure
on it. It is clear that the more gestures are shown to the aggressor
and its backing forces, the worse. Probably, this formula has already
influenced the opinion of the Party of Justice and Development.
The infamous website Wikileaks has declassified new documents unveiling
US Secretary Hillary Clinton's concerns about Turkey's consolidation
and Ankara's plans to create nuclear weapon. What can be the impact
of Turkey's plans on the region?
Strengthening of any country may cause concerns throughout the world.
But it does not mean that countries must not consolidate.
As to concerns of superpowers about Turkey's consolidation, it all
comes from opportunistic considerations. The world shows no fears
over Turkey's strengthening, since Turkey is not a patriarchal country
or ruled by a single person. It is a democratic country, integrating
toward peace. But some countries in the West claim to use Turkey for
their purposes. In this case I would not say that those countries
are the powers that seek to create harmony in the world.
And how can Turkey' consolidation influence Turkey's position in
the region?
Turkey is Azerbaijan's friend and strategic ally. Additionally,
the relations between the Turkish and Azerbaijani peoples, described
as relations between representatives of one nation, rely on strong
grounds and ethnic unity. For this reason, Turkey's consolidation
will always be in Azerbaijan's interests.
How may the South Caucasus region benefit from improvement of
Turkish-Russian relations that creates concerns in Armenia?
Naturally that Turkey has its interests in Russia. A part of these
interests is mostly linked to the fact that Russia accounts for large
Turkic ethnicities. Furthermore, Turkey and Russia feel the need
for development of bilateral ties with respect to mutual interest in
those countries.
In turn, Turkey is of interest to Russia as a country with developed
business. Turkish businessmen started their businesses widely in
Russia. All the same, Russia's attitude toward Turkey has never been
unambiguous. Russia, as a big country, always laid the emphasis with
relations with Turkey when it was necessary to secure its interests
in the East.
As for Armenia, it is a country that shows concerns on any issue.
Armenia is a formation that seeks to use any tensions in international
relations. Armenia's overall attitude to global problems is not
standard or complying with norms of international law. For this very
reason, Armenia has always showed concerns about any rapprochement
between Russia and Turkey.