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TURKEY, RUSSIA COVERING UP POLITICAL DISCORDS BEHIND ECONOMIC PRAGMATISM
11:17 * 02.12.14
The recent dynamics in the Turkey-Russia relations demonstrates a high
degree of economic interdependence against the backdrop of apparent
conflicts and disagreements over political and military-political
issues, an Armenian expert has said, commenting on Russian Presiden
Vladimir Putin's working visit to Turkey.
Speaking to Tert.am, Turkologist Levon Hovsepyan said he believes
that the two countries are thus trying to compensate the existing
difficulties in the political domain.
The Turkey-Russia trade-economic and energy cooperation was earlier
reported to be on the agenda of the bilateral council meeting to
be attended also by Russian President Vladimir Putin (who started a
working visit to the country on Monday).
"The economic pragmatism can be said to be covering up the political
discords. Hence the two sides are still trying their utmost to turn
a blind eye to the bilateral conflicts," Hovsepyan noted.
Asked whether such a scenario is possible given that Russia and
Turkey pursue different political interests and objectives as leading
stakeholders in the Black Sea region and Middle East, the expert said
he thinks that the crisis in Ukraine adds to the Syria conflict as a
major regional problem, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
repeatedly voicing his criticism over what the West perceives as the
annexation of Crimea.
"And Russia is trying to attract Turkey to its side though a close
economic cooperation; Turkey, for its part, is using the Russia
factor as a kind of alternative to its relations with the West. This
problem has been characteristic of the Russian-Turkish relations
in the recent years," he said, adding that the sides are mutually
trying all their best to offer each other support without hampering
political objectives.
Hovsepyan said he finds that Turkey's negative stance on the Western
sanctions against Russia signals the logic behind such policies.
Armenian News - Tert.am
11:17 * 02.12.14
The recent dynamics in the Turkey-Russia relations demonstrates a high
degree of economic interdependence against the backdrop of apparent
conflicts and disagreements over political and military-political
issues, an Armenian expert has said, commenting on Russian Presiden
Vladimir Putin's working visit to Turkey.
Speaking to Tert.am, Turkologist Levon Hovsepyan said he believes
that the two countries are thus trying to compensate the existing
difficulties in the political domain.
The Turkey-Russia trade-economic and energy cooperation was earlier
reported to be on the agenda of the bilateral council meeting to
be attended also by Russian President Vladimir Putin (who started a
working visit to the country on Monday).
"The economic pragmatism can be said to be covering up the political
discords. Hence the two sides are still trying their utmost to turn
a blind eye to the bilateral conflicts," Hovsepyan noted.
Asked whether such a scenario is possible given that Russia and
Turkey pursue different political interests and objectives as leading
stakeholders in the Black Sea region and Middle East, the expert said
he thinks that the crisis in Ukraine adds to the Syria conflict as a
major regional problem, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
repeatedly voicing his criticism over what the West perceives as the
annexation of Crimea.
"And Russia is trying to attract Turkey to its side though a close
economic cooperation; Turkey, for its part, is using the Russia
factor as a kind of alternative to its relations with the West. This
problem has been characteristic of the Russian-Turkish relations
in the recent years," he said, adding that the sides are mutually
trying all their best to offer each other support without hampering
political objectives.
Hovsepyan said he finds that Turkey's negative stance on the Western
sanctions against Russia signals the logic behind such policies.
Armenian News - Tert.am