Comments of Azerbaijani political scientists regarding the visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gul to Yerevan

Famous political scientist Eldar Jahangirov:

"It is an undoubted axiom that leaders of every country ought to care about the national interests of their country. In this connection, the decision of Turkish President Abdullah Gul to visit Yerevan to watch a football match between the teams of Armenia and Turkey is a bright illustration of official Ankara's protection of the national interests of Turkey.

But I think that the decision of the working leadership of Turkey is a mistake in the strategic sense, as no one in Yerevan has ever said that Armenia would disavow the idea of recognition of the "genocide" of Armenians in Osman Turkey, which implies possible further material and territorial claims by Armenia and world Armenians. We just hear of Armenia's readiness for a dialogue with Turkey, which is an unstable ground for optimism and even so more for such apparent steps towards Armenia, which are made by the working leadership of Turkey.  

Famous political scientist Zardusht Alizade:

"I approve the decision of Turkish President Abdullah Gul, who accepted the invitation of the Armenian President to attend the Armenia-Turkey football match in Yerevan, as, thus, Turkey will have more opportunities to influence the progressive part of the Armenian society, which speaks for the normalization of the Turkish-Armenian relations. I am sure that after Abdullah Gul's visit to Yerevan the voices of those, who support normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations will sound stronger.

As for Azerbaijan, we should have got rid of illusions that someone, in this case, Turkey, will settle our problems, in this case the problem of the Armenian-occupied Azerbaijani lands.

Azerbaijan and Turkey are two different states and our national interests also differ. Turkey is currently holding an external policy, which is profitable to it. Nagorno Karabakh and all other occupied lands is our own, Azerbaijani business, it is our mirror, which reflects our idea of honor and dignity"

Famous political scientist Vafa Quluzade:

"Today the South Caucasus region reminds of a boiler with muddy water and it is difficult to single out a grain in this water. The visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gul is also thus contradictory and covered with a veil of secrecy.

It is only left to guess about the real motives of this step of the current leadership of Turkey. If Turkey makes these steps under Russia's pressure, which promises economic benefits in a form of energy supply, flow of tourists and other bonuses to it, it is frustrating, because I understand personally that Armenia is an edge, Russia is targeting at Turkey with. It is also clear that Armenians hate Turks genetically, accusing them of organization of a mythical "genocide" in Osman Turkey in 1915. Armenians' outlook can not change in the result of the only visit of the Turkish President to Yerevan.

Moreover, we all remember well that Turkish leaders, including the working ones, have repeatedly stated that official Ankara has nothing to speak of with official Yerevan unless the latter releases the occupied lands of Azerbaijan.

Unfortunately, we see that times change and it makes us think that Turkey treats Azerbaijan as a stepson, while we, in Azerbaijan, would like to see a mother in Turkey's face. Therefore, we hope that Abdullah Gul's visit will finally be in favor of not only Armenia and Turkey, but also Azerbaijan. For this purpose it is necessary for Armenia to disavow the idea of recognition of 1915 "genocide" and agree to return all the occupied lands of Azerbaijan, coming back to the Caucasus family and rejecting the status of "Russia's outpost in the Caucasus", which is disgraceful for an independent state.

Famous political scientist Rasim Aghayev:

"The whole policy of a thaw in the Armenian-Turkish relations has a hidden motive. The thing is that Erdogan's government, with all its achievements, is in a vulnerable state. The thing is that Islamists are still not accepted either in the United States or in Europe. Therefore, the attempts of Erdogan's government to change opinion about them out of Turkey's bounds are not surprising. Unfortunately, in the result, it turns out that the current leadership of Turkey is turning into "a greater Catholics than the Roman Pope".

Unfortunately, most actions of the working leadership of Turkey are astonishing. They are understandable and suitable for the United States and Europe, which put pressure on Turkey in the issue of restoring good neighbor relations with Armenia, but are surprising for Turkey, which was used to base on the national interests of the state and these interests do not attribute excessive naivety to official Ankara in building its relations with Armenia, which is currently in a poor economic state, but has not yet disavowed the idea of recognizing the "genocide of Armenians" in the Osman Turkey and has not released the occupied lands of Azerbaijan, though these terms were put forward by official Ankara as critical ones for initiation of a dialogue with official Yerevan.

It seems to me that after Abdullah Gul's visit to Yerevan, the relations between Armenia and Turkey may improve which will worsen Azerbaijan' state, for, in this case, we will be left without a strong partner in the region, while Armenia can always count on Russia's support".

Famous political scientist Ilgar Mamedov:

"The visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gul is a positive step, which in the new conditions, established in the South Caucasus following a new, tough phase of tensions in the Georgian-Russian conflict, may change the geopolitical construction of the region.

After the rupture of diplomatic relations between Georgia and Russia, Armenia is even in a greater isolation. All conditions for further development and security of Armenia will further be challenged, for Georgia was a kind of a "window" to Russia for it. Now Georgia has no diplomatic relations with Russia and is closely bound to Azerbaijan and Turkey by its geopolitical and economic interests. But it would be inexpedient for such a small state as Armenia to bind its future only on the border with Iran. Armenia's such a shaky position will allow Turkish leadership to persuade the leaders of this country of the destructiveness of the way for self-isolation.

Gul will try to explain to Armenians that if they disavow the territorial claims to Azerbaijan and Turkey, Armenia will be able to benefit from the regional economic and political cooperation".

/Day.Az/