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Turkish expert: â€œThe polarization process will intensify in the world if Russia argues China and India in recognizing â€œindependenceâ€ of separatist regionsâ€

28 August 2008 13:46 (UTC +04:00)

Istanbulâ€“APA. â€œProcesses in the South Caucasus will not end with the recognition of Georgian two separatist regions by Russia. This process can have deeper resultsâ€, Mansur Akgun, assistant Professor of the International Relations Department of Istanbul Culture University and executive director of the Global Strategic Trends Center told APA Turkish bureau. He said Caucasian countries and nearby states should take initiative to solve their own problems. â€œIt can prevent the deepening crisis because the issue is not restricted only with the Georgiaâ€™s territorial integrity. It is not seen possible to solve some problems by force. From this perspective it is good to review Nagrono karabakh issue within the framework of Erdoganâ€™s Caucasian Stability Pact initiative. Two of the three main Caucasian countries have very serious problems between each other. Turkish-Armenian relations are also not good. It needs to develop Turkish-Armenian relationship for solving these problems. Close borders have no positive effects on our relations with Armenia. We saw that our policy toward Armenia since 1993 didnâ€™t contribute to the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. We have to review new policy because changing of geopolitical conditions. We can think that Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh have stronger intentions to rely on Russia. If Russia argues China and India in recognizing â€œindependenceâ€ of separatist regions, it will have global results and intensify polarization in the world. If Armenia stay away from Turkey in this process, its results will be shown at the global level. Therefore it needs to think about the Caucasian Stability Pact seriouslyâ€. Mansur Akgun expressed opinion about the Armeniansâ€™ territorial claim against Turkey. â€œArmenian TV channels make weather forecast in the â€œWestern Armeniaâ€, which is the eastern part of Turkey. I ask them: â€œCan you keep these provinces, even if you take them with your 2 million populations? No one can answer this question. We were at war with Syria early 1990s, but now nobody in Syria has territorial claim against Turkey. I believe that we will come to an understanding over the issue of â€œArmenian genocideâ€.