Zardusht Alizade: "Erdogan's initiative on Caucasus security union is primordially unsuccessful"

- Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan is to arrive on a short-term official visit to Azerbaijan today. The main topic of talks with the Azerbaijani leadership is a prospect of creating the organization of the Caucasus region countries by OSCE pattern for ensuring regional security. How real is that perspective?

- I think even if created such an organization will be ineffective as there are discrepancies between different countries of our region. As an example, let's take Azerbaijan and Armenia, which have a conflict, that will not be settled in the near future.

Therefore, I think, Erdogan's initiative is just a wish, which will never come true. In the principle, the idea is not bad, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Thus, this idea is absolutely unreal.

Moreover, do not forget that we and Armenia are members of many international organizations and, nevertheless, none of them are able to settle the conflict between us. This can not be done by either CIS, or OSCE, or the Council of Europe or UN or BSEC. There are many organizations, which we join, and creation of one more ineffective formation will not settle our problems and, therefore, will be senseless.

- Why it was Turkey which proposed an idea of creating a coalition of the Caucasus state? Is it an attempt to prove that Turkey is one of the most influential regional states?

- Turkey seems to attempt to prove its potential. At the same time, it should never be forgotten that this country works in close ties with Russia. It was not by accident that the Turkish side told the Russian one during the recent bilateral talks in Moscow: "You currently have strained relations with the United States and we can mediate the elimination of these tensions". Definite ease in the relations with Armenia is possible in exchange. Turkey tries to show that it may play a definite role in improving relations between Russia and Georgia and even between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Thus, the Turkish Prime Minister wants to underscore the significant role, his state plays in the region. This is a normal diplomatic step, aimed at attaching greater importance to one's country.

- What do you think about the opinion that the recent closing of ties between Turkey and Russia is explained by common antipathy against the West: Ankara is discontent with an unwillingness of some European leaders to let Turkey into the European Union and Moscow regards Turkey as an important ally in period of deterioration of relations with the West due to the recent events in South Ossetia?

- Well, first of all, Turkey and its leaders are not so naive to be outraged by Europe. Such a position would be too naive. Moreover, they are quite wise to be patient and try to follow the long and hard way till the end in order to attain the desired goal. If people are engaged in politics in such a weird country as Turkey, these are experienced people. Thus, I do not think that in this case the point is the offense against Europe, as such a policy would not be effective, especially when the point is Erdogan's policy who has showed himself as a wise politician.

As for the Russian leadership, it seems to have lost the sense of reality owing to excess oil revenues. Perhaps, Erdogan tries to ease tensions, which was caused by the events around South Ossetia. Erdogan attempted this step, as the interests of Turkish business in Russia are quite significant and Turkish Premier has always been sensitive in the issue of national business.

- The new Russian President Medvedev, substantiating the Russian invasion of Georgia, said that Russia has been the guarantor of security in the Caucasus for centuries. If so, will Russia agree to share the spheres of influence in the Caucasus region with Turkey?

- Why not? There is a good saying: never say never. I also think that there is nothing eternal in this world. Neither Russia, nor USSR are eternal and positions are not eternal either. Everything is changing. Could the Soviet leaders imagine the USSR collapse 30 years ago? No, they couldn't. Could they imagine that Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia will once become members of NATO and European Union? Never. Or could they imagine 30 years ago that we will fight with once friendly republic of Armenia? No. Therefore, never say never. Everything can happen. Even US base in Central Asia, locating in proximity to Russian bases, is a fact today, though no one could ever imagine this even in the worst nightmare.

/Day.Az/