Turkey faces enormous tasks in South Caucasus: political analyst

Day.Az: During official visit to the U.S., Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that opening of the Armenian-Turkish border depends on return of Azerbaijan’s seven occupied regions by Armenia. How do you assess this statement?

Vafa Guluzade: I welcome this statement. Turkey does not want to ruin relations with Azerbaijan by opening borders with aggressor Armenia. I believe opening the borders without resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can prompt strong reaction of Azerbaijan.

On the other hand, this statement is also meant for the Turkish public which is dissatisfied with signing of the Turkey-Armenia protocols not to mention the possibility of opening the borders with Armenia.

It was stated at a Washington meeting that Turkey and the U.S. have the same agenda in the Caspian region. In your opinion, what does this agenda include?

I think Turkey is a guide for American interests in our region. Turkey can become a leader in the South Caucasus. But neighboring countries Russia and Iran, who do not want Turkey and the United States to increase influence in the region, will hinder it.

Currently, Turkey serves as a mediator in negotiations between the West on one hand and Syria and Iran on the other. So, Turkey has enormous tasks in the South Caucasus, the Middle East and Central Asia.

In this situation the U.S. can not participate in solving the Karabakh problem, because now it has other priorities. Washington’s priority now is relationship with Moscow, and it does not want to engage in a confrontation with Russia on the South Caucasus.

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan at the meetings in Washington said that the OSCE Minsk Group should be willing to solve Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. What are your views on this statement?

I believe that the OSCE Minsk Group do not want to solve the Karabakh issue, and they will show no will. It was Azerbaijan who showed a will in 1999, when it was close to the solution of the Karabakh issue. But shooting in the Armenian parliament at that time canceled all agreements.

Do you believe the top level meetings in Washington will lead to progress in resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

I think that all statements about progress in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict are just empty talks for the blind. I believe there is no progress in the Karabakh issue.

Day.Az