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ADVANCEMENT IN TURKISH-AZERI TIES SEEN AS MESSAGE TO RUSSIA, IRAN
Today's Zaman, Turkey
July 24 2013
The latest relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan can be understood
as a message from the latter to regional heavyweight Russia and even
Iran, analysts say.
Orhan GafarlA±, an Azerbaijani researcher at the Turkish think tank the
Wise Men Centre for Strategic Studies (BA°LGESAM), stated in remarks
to Today's Zaman that relations between Azerbaijan and Russia have
grown more tense as Azerbaijanis have strengthened their relationship
with the US and Israel, which Russia views as being at the expense
of itself. Typically, Russia has been a large source of pressure to
Azerbaijan when it comes to regional issues.
"The advancement of military relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan
is important for both sides," said GafarlA±. He explained that
Russia is currently trying to convince Azerbaijan to be included
in its Eurasian Union project - a proposed political and economic
union involving Russia and post-Soviet states - that it is trying
to make ready by 2015. But Azerbaijan is not welcoming of such a
request. "The relations between the two governments have been cold
during recent years, which is in parallel with Azerbaijan's foreign
policy choices having a more Western vision day by day. For example,
[Russian President] Vladimir Putin and [Azerbaijani President Ilham]
Aliyev have not had any bilateral visits since 2010; they are only
having exchanges on the phone," GafarlA± stated.
Turkey has been staging a major military exercise with Azerbaijan
since July 12 and it will continue until July 28. The military exercise
is being made as part of the Turkey-Azerbaijan Strategic Partnership
Agreement signed between the two in August 2010.
A statement from the Turkish military said the exercise focused on
infantry and mechanized divisions in Baku and Nakhchivan. "The aim
of the exercise was to bolster military cooperation between the two
countries and exchange data and experience," the statement also said.
Azerbaijan-Turkey joint exercises will be held in Azerbaijan and
Turkey every year by turn.
Meanwhile, in a development that would create concern for Azerbaijan,
Russia promised earlier this month to upgrade its military base in the
Gyumri province of Armenia while also helping to bolster Armenia's own
air forces. International reports say that such a step by Russia is
an effort to appease controversy with Armenia that began after Moscow
made a huge arms sale to Azerbaijan, a nation with hostile relations
with Armenia. A modernization project for Russia's 102nd Military
Base at Gyumri, in northern Armenia near its border with Turkey,
and the airbase at Yerevan's Erebuni Airport is to begin this year
and take several years to complete, Armenian officials have declared.
Meanwhile, the Iranian navy made a five-day military deal in the
Caspian Sea, where just last year Iran discovered an oil field. The
status of the Caspian Sea is controversial due to territorial claims by
Russia, Azerbaijani, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. It is another issue
of controversy between tense neighbours Azerbaijan and Iran, where
the former accuses the latter of intervening in its internal affairs.
The relations of Azerbaijan and Turkey have been strategically
developing during the last couple of years. The two have been having
annual meetings within the scope of the Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level
Cooperation Council since 2011. The council is the first large-scale
joint exercise between Turkey and Azerbaijan, as the Azerbaijani chief
of the Main Operation Department of the Armed Forces, Maj. Gen. Eyvaz
Jafarov, also noted in a speech during the opening ceremony of the
exercise in Azerbaijan.
Also, an official visit was made by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu last Tuesday to Baku for high-level meetings to discuss
all aspects of bilateral cooperation between the two countries,
with a special focus on regional issues. Turkish diplomats noted
that this is "the first, full-fledged bilateral meeting" between
Turkey and Azerbaijan in the last few years, as the two countries
have come together either in Azerbaijan or Turkey on the occasion of
international meetings.
In diplomatic terms, the relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan have
also developed in recent years. An exchange programme that would
allow the two countries' diplomats to work in each other's foreign
ministries, which was started in September of last year, is thought to
be an important development for the mutual advancement of diplomatic
relations between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Sabir AskEroglu, a Russia analyst from the Ankara-based
think tank 21st Century Turkey Institute, maintained that the
increasing military and political relations between Turkey and
Azerbaijan would not in any way amount to being a guarantor in regional
issues - as in relations Russia has with Armenia.
"Azerbaijan has allies other than Turkey, such as the US and Israel.
On the other hand, Turkey would not like to take Russia on itself by
getting involved in the regional issues that Russia has a position on.
But souring relations between Turkey and Iran, especially due to the
Syrian crisis, would apparently strengthen the Turkish-Azerbaijani
alliance," AskEroglu said.
Today's Zaman, Turkey
July 24 2013
The latest relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan can be understood
as a message from the latter to regional heavyweight Russia and even
Iran, analysts say.
Orhan GafarlA±, an Azerbaijani researcher at the Turkish think tank the
Wise Men Centre for Strategic Studies (BA°LGESAM), stated in remarks
to Today's Zaman that relations between Azerbaijan and Russia have
grown more tense as Azerbaijanis have strengthened their relationship
with the US and Israel, which Russia views as being at the expense
of itself. Typically, Russia has been a large source of pressure to
Azerbaijan when it comes to regional issues.
"The advancement of military relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan
is important for both sides," said GafarlA±. He explained that
Russia is currently trying to convince Azerbaijan to be included
in its Eurasian Union project - a proposed political and economic
union involving Russia and post-Soviet states - that it is trying
to make ready by 2015. But Azerbaijan is not welcoming of such a
request. "The relations between the two governments have been cold
during recent years, which is in parallel with Azerbaijan's foreign
policy choices having a more Western vision day by day. For example,
[Russian President] Vladimir Putin and [Azerbaijani President Ilham]
Aliyev have not had any bilateral visits since 2010; they are only
having exchanges on the phone," GafarlA± stated.
Turkey has been staging a major military exercise with Azerbaijan
since July 12 and it will continue until July 28. The military exercise
is being made as part of the Turkey-Azerbaijan Strategic Partnership
Agreement signed between the two in August 2010.
A statement from the Turkish military said the exercise focused on
infantry and mechanized divisions in Baku and Nakhchivan. "The aim
of the exercise was to bolster military cooperation between the two
countries and exchange data and experience," the statement also said.
Azerbaijan-Turkey joint exercises will be held in Azerbaijan and
Turkey every year by turn.
Meanwhile, in a development that would create concern for Azerbaijan,
Russia promised earlier this month to upgrade its military base in the
Gyumri province of Armenia while also helping to bolster Armenia's own
air forces. International reports say that such a step by Russia is
an effort to appease controversy with Armenia that began after Moscow
made a huge arms sale to Azerbaijan, a nation with hostile relations
with Armenia. A modernization project for Russia's 102nd Military
Base at Gyumri, in northern Armenia near its border with Turkey,
and the airbase at Yerevan's Erebuni Airport is to begin this year
and take several years to complete, Armenian officials have declared.
Meanwhile, the Iranian navy made a five-day military deal in the
Caspian Sea, where just last year Iran discovered an oil field. The
status of the Caspian Sea is controversial due to territorial claims by
Russia, Azerbaijani, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. It is another issue
of controversy between tense neighbours Azerbaijan and Iran, where
the former accuses the latter of intervening in its internal affairs.
The relations of Azerbaijan and Turkey have been strategically
developing during the last couple of years. The two have been having
annual meetings within the scope of the Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level
Cooperation Council since 2011. The council is the first large-scale
joint exercise between Turkey and Azerbaijan, as the Azerbaijani chief
of the Main Operation Department of the Armed Forces, Maj. Gen. Eyvaz
Jafarov, also noted in a speech during the opening ceremony of the
exercise in Azerbaijan.
Also, an official visit was made by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu last Tuesday to Baku for high-level meetings to discuss
all aspects of bilateral cooperation between the two countries,
with a special focus on regional issues. Turkish diplomats noted
that this is "the first, full-fledged bilateral meeting" between
Turkey and Azerbaijan in the last few years, as the two countries
have come together either in Azerbaijan or Turkey on the occasion of
international meetings.
In diplomatic terms, the relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan have
also developed in recent years. An exchange programme that would
allow the two countries' diplomats to work in each other's foreign
ministries, which was started in September of last year, is thought to
be an important development for the mutual advancement of diplomatic
relations between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Sabir AskEroglu, a Russia analyst from the Ankara-based
think tank 21st Century Turkey Institute, maintained that the
increasing military and political relations between Turkey and
Azerbaijan would not in any way amount to being a guarantor in regional
issues - as in relations Russia has with Armenia.
"Azerbaijan has allies other than Turkey, such as the US and Israel.
On the other hand, Turkey would not like to take Russia on itself by
getting involved in the regional issues that Russia has a position on.
But souring relations between Turkey and Iran, especially due to the
Syrian crisis, would apparently strengthen the Turkish-Azerbaijani
alliance," AskEroglu said.