ArmInfo.The Turkish program of destruction of the Armenian statehood obviously remains in force. And the latest events in our border regions are a vivid confirmation of this. The director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, academician Ruben Safrastyan, expressed a similar opinion to ArmInfo.
"After our grave, shameful defeat in last year's war, I predicted the next Turkish strike in the direction of Syunik. And we see that today the Syunik and Gegharkunik regions of Armenia are of strategic importance for Ankara in terms of the implementation of their long-cherished pan-Turkist ideas and programs. It is important to note here, that by linking Turkey through Nakhichevan with Azerbaijan, the Turks will be able to transport military equipment and ammunition to Azerbaijan without hindrance and quite quickly. This opens up extensive opportunities for Ankara for drastic geopolitical changes in our region in its favor, he stressed.
The academician considers the most important goal of Turkey to get a permanent military base in Nakhichevan, in the direction of which, in his opinion, there are obvious processes today. And in general, according to his estimates, Ankara is actively using Azerbaijan to expand its own military presence in the South Caucasus. The latter is part of a general trend in Turkish policy to deploy its own military bases in all regions where there are Turkish interests and, accordingly, a Turkish presence.
Analyzing the recent loud statements of Ilham Aliyev and the policy of Baku in general, the academician is firmly convinced that Azerbaijan is in the mainstream of Turkish policy. Safrastyan considers it an obvious fact that Baku's foreign policy has been coordinated with Ankara. In particular, after the last war in Artsakh. At the same time, Aliyev himself, in his opinion, is still trying to keep personally at least a small space for actions independent of Erdogan. In particular, for contacts with certain Moscow circles.
Assessing, in this light, the current geopolitical situation as very dangerous for Armenia, Safrastyan noted with regret that until now the country's authorities had failed to take the necessary steps to prevent these programs of Ankara. At the same time, the academician recalled that even after the genocide committed by the Turks, the Armenian people managed to recover from the heavy blow and restore statehood.
"We managed to do it then. We managed to defeat the Turks in Sardarapat. This speaks of our powerful spiritual strength. And I am convinced that this strength, this potential is in us today. And all this will open up the possibility of recovery for us. The opportunity to recover from a heavy defeat and shake off its consequences. For this, we, the Armenians of the whole world, need will and unity. I remain an optimist and am convinced that together we will be able to overcome all the threats and challenges faced by the Armenian people and statehood, "Safrastyan summed up