Expert: Russia and Iran are concerned about the Pan-Turkiс expansion of Turkey

25.11.2020, Yerevan.

Ankara’s pan-Turkish aspirations cause anxiety in Russia and Iran, Iranologist Vardan Voskanyan believes. He expressed such an opinion on November 25 on the air of Sputnik Armenia.

In his opinion, Armenia should initiate a detailed discussion of the pan-Turkic aspirations of Turkey.

He noted that strengthening of Turkish positions in Transcaucasia, “mainland” Azerbaijan, as well as in Nakhchivan, cannot meet the interests of Iran and Russia. Vardan Voskanyan noted that Turkey’s actions in fact are aimed at weakening Russia’s and Iran’s positions in the region.

“Taking the active mediation of the Russian side into account, Turkey is dissatisfied with the results of the Artsakh war,” he said.

The expert believes that it is necessary to clarify what is meant by “corridor” in southern Armenia connecting Nakhchivan with Azerbaijan in the trilateral agreement signed by the Presidents. According to him, in this paragraph of the agreement there are much more questions than answers.

“But it is obvious that the Meghri region plays the role of a ‘wedge’ which, according to Turkish logic, does not allow Turkey to establish the connection with Azerbaijan by land road, to be at the Iranian northern borders. And taking Ankara’s pan-Turkish plans of into account, it is also possible to provide connection with Central Asia,” the expert believes.

Iran and a number of other countries, which are worried about possible “expansion” of Turkey to the east, are very concerned about the presence of such a corridor. According to him, the issue of this land road is very important, and not only for Turkey.

Vardan Voskanyan believes that the issue of the corridor should be discussed in detail both in Armenia and among its allies. He recalled that Iran is also concerned that Azerbaijan deploys the Syrian militants in the region, especially on the territory bordering Iran.

“The presence of terrorist groups on the border is a primary threat for Iran. But they also pose a serious danger to Russia. That’s why the issue must be resolved as soon as possible – they must be immediately withdrawn from the region,” he said.

The trilateral agreement, which was signed on the night of November 10 by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the Russian and Azerbaijani presidents sipulates the cessation of hostilities in Karabakh, the deployment of Russian peacekeepers and the transfer of some areas of Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan.

Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency

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