ArmInfo. I am sure that as soon as external factors allow Ankara to change its policy towards Armenia without tangible material, political and reputation losses, the Turks will do so. A well-known Azerbaijani political scientist, a participant in the civil peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Zardusht Alizadeh expressed a similar opinion to ArmInfo.
"Turkey's support of Azerbaijan's positions in the Karabakh conflict is a rather complicated phenomenon. In my opinion, Ankara takes this position under pressure from Baku and another influential country that has effective levers of pressure on Armenia's foreign policy. In this light, I am convinced that Turkey will change vector policy towards Armenia soon, "he noted.
According to the political scientist, Ankara's only complaint with regard to Yerevan is the policy of genocide inspired by external forces. In his opinion, this brings only harm to Armenia itself, but it provides Turkey's partners with quite good trump cards in the game against the "ally-enemy".
Commenting on the regular, fourth military exercises this year in Azerbaijan held jointly with Turkey and Georgia, Alizadeh assessed them as "maneuvers", which he considers along with the latest "intensification of the activities of the Minsk Group co-chairs". According to him, Turkey does not have any need to create a military base on the territory of Azerbaijan in Nakhichevan at a distance of only a few kilometers from its own territory. "Ankara has absolutely no reason to scare Armenia with this base, since Turkey is seeking reconciliation and rapprochement with it. There is no need to frighten Russia, with which the Turks stubbornly build strong and mutually beneficial relations, including in the military field. Moreover, Turkey is never going to fight against Russia. In this light, Ankara's military base in Nakhichivan is unnecessary, "Alizadeh concluded. On September 2, joint command and staff exercises of the military from Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia Eternity-2019 started in Baku, the purpose of which is to develop measures to protect transport and energy infrastructure projects with the participation of three countries. Three countries have been conducting the Caucasian Eagle exercises since 2009. According to the statement of the Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan Zakir Hasanov, in 2019 Turkey and Azerbaijan are going to conduct 13 joint exercises, to which Georgia is invited.