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CASPIAN STRATEGY INSTITUTE WARNS AGAINST LIKELY TENSION IN CAUCASIA
Today's Zaman, Turkey
June 26 2013
Evaluating recent events in Turkey's surrounding region, an expert at
the Caspian Strategy Institute (HASEN) said on Wednesday that a border
protection agreement signed between Russia and Armenia on Tuesday is
significant due to the possibility of it changing the balance of
security in the region.
Efgan Niftiyev argued that such an agreement on border security aims
to give countries in the region a message and overshadows the
impartial role of Russia in the Minsk Group.
As far as the Caucasus is concerned, Niftiyev argued that Russia's
armament in the separatist regions of Georgia will lead to security
concerns in an already fragile area negatively influenced by the war
in 2008. "Already existing problems should not be provoked because,
without peace, economy projects cannot be implemented," he said.
Commenting on the ultimate status of the Southern Gas Corridor,
Niftiyev predicted a decision will be made by partners in the Shah
Deniz consortium by the end of this week in favor of the Trans
Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) over the Nabucco West pipeline, determining
the European leg of the Southern Gas Corridor.
Evaluating the Iranian presidential elections in June, Niftiyev argued
that the election of Hasan Rohani has signaled a compromise between
elites in Iran who were likely to become polarized prior to the
elections. "The election of Rohani could be interpreted as a step that
prevented an intervention in Iran [on the nuclear issue]," Niftiyev
said. However, he believes that Israel will continue to express
concerns since the election of Rohani relaxed most external pressure
on Iran.
Analyzing the economic dimension of the last two months in the region
, Dr. Fatih Macit from HASEN said that the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline
(TANAP) will be an important factor in decreasing Europe's dependence
on Russian gas since there have been estimates that the European gas
demand could significantly increase by 2030 to 600 billion cubic
meters.
But Dr. Macit said that Turkey's mid-range goal should be solving the
current account deficit problem. He claims the government has become
more aware of the issue and is taking positive steps towards it,
including contributing to personal retirement accounts.
Today's Zaman, Turkey
June 26 2013
Evaluating recent events in Turkey's surrounding region, an expert at
the Caspian Strategy Institute (HASEN) said on Wednesday that a border
protection agreement signed between Russia and Armenia on Tuesday is
significant due to the possibility of it changing the balance of
security in the region.
Efgan Niftiyev argued that such an agreement on border security aims
to give countries in the region a message and overshadows the
impartial role of Russia in the Minsk Group.
As far as the Caucasus is concerned, Niftiyev argued that Russia's
armament in the separatist regions of Georgia will lead to security
concerns in an already fragile area negatively influenced by the war
in 2008. "Already existing problems should not be provoked because,
without peace, economy projects cannot be implemented," he said.
Commenting on the ultimate status of the Southern Gas Corridor,
Niftiyev predicted a decision will be made by partners in the Shah
Deniz consortium by the end of this week in favor of the Trans
Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) over the Nabucco West pipeline, determining
the European leg of the Southern Gas Corridor.
Evaluating the Iranian presidential elections in June, Niftiyev argued
that the election of Hasan Rohani has signaled a compromise between
elites in Iran who were likely to become polarized prior to the
elections. "The election of Rohani could be interpreted as a step that
prevented an intervention in Iran [on the nuclear issue]," Niftiyev
said. However, he believes that Israel will continue to express
concerns since the election of Rohani relaxed most external pressure
on Iran.
Analyzing the economic dimension of the last two months in the region
, Dr. Fatih Macit from HASEN said that the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline
(TANAP) will be an important factor in decreasing Europe's dependence
on Russian gas since there have been estimates that the European gas
demand could significantly increase by 2030 to 600 billion cubic
meters.
But Dr. Macit said that Turkey's mid-range goal should be solving the
current account deficit problem. He claims the government has become
more aware of the issue and is taking positive steps towards it,
including contributing to personal retirement accounts.