Given the uncompromising stance of Russian and Turkish authorities, one can assume that the standoff between the two countries will not ease in the near future so Armenia should be prepared for various scenarios of further developments and act taking into account the realities, expert Aram Manukyan said at a meeting with reporters today.
“Turkey may attempt to use the Karabakh front so as to involve Russia in an active confrontation and provoke a war here. Armenia should also be ready for possible attempts to carry out such incidents at our western borders. There is little likelihood of this, but we need to be prepared,” he said.
Speaking about Russia-Turkey tensions, the political scientist noted that regarding the Syrian issue, the interests of Russia and Turkey are at odds. ‘Ankara is interested in Assad’s removal and Syria’s fragmentation in the future, while Moscow pursues a different goal – it aims to protect the Assad regime,” Manukyan said.
According to him, the problem should be examined not only from a political point of view. “It is through Turkey that the Islamic State is carrying out serious activities by selling oil. It would be naïve to think that the Turkish authorities were unaware or remained neutral”.
“In other words, Russia’s actions also hit Turkey’s political elite in the pocket,” he said.
According to Manukyan, Turkey showed that in order to promote its own interests, it is ready to trample on universal values, even hinder the fight against international terrorism.