Turkologist: Erdogan`s statements do not reflect Turkish real politik

ArmInfo.With his recent statements, the Turkish president only masks the real goals of  Turkey's real policy towards Armenia. A policy based on three  preconditions.  Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of  Armenia, Turkologist Ruben Safrastyan expressed a similar opinion to   ArmInfo, commenting on Recep Erdogan's readiness to normalize  relations with Armenia.

On August 25, Turkish President Erdogan said at a meeting with  ambassadors of a number of countries that "after the end of the  occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh in the South Caucasus, conditions have  been created for a long-term peace, and if Armenia uses this chance,  Ankara will take the necessary steps." "The region needs a  constructive approach. And even if there are disagreements, it is  necessary to develop neighborly relations on the basis of respect for  territorial integrity and sovereignty. I wish success to the new  government of Armenia, which announced its readiness to move in this  direction," Erdogan told Turkish journalists on August 29. 

"We have to admit that given the irreplaceability of these three  preconditions: Armenia's rejection of the policy of recognizing the  Artsakh people's right to self-determination, the rejection of the  policy of international recognition of the fact of the Armenian  Genocide and recognition of the realities of the Treaty of Kars, in  fact, Ankara's policy towards Yerevan does not change either. Thus,  in the plane of real politik, I do not see any changes in Turkey's  attitude towards Armenia, "he stressed.

Meanwhile, for any positive expectations from Turkey to appear in  Armenia, Ankara, in the academician's opinion, needs to take real  steps towards demonstrating its own desire and interest in  normalizing relations with Armenia. Safrastyan is convinced that  until Ankara demonstrates its real aspiration, its real steps towards  Yerevan, and the expression of its readiness to establish relations  without preconditions, nothing will come of it.  At the same time, to  date, according to the academician, there are no such positive  impulses from the Turkish side. Moreover, after the 44-day war,  Turkey, together with Azerbaijan, is trying to further increase  pressure on Armenia in order to achieve Yerevan's consent to the  above three preconditions. Safrastyan is convinced that in the end  peace in the region will turn out to be uncontested, however, to  date, he does not see an understanding of this prospect and the  aspirations of Baku and Ankara in the direction of achieving it.   "Against this background, I exclude the very possibility of Armenia's  consent to Turkish preconditions. By accepting these preconditions,  we will personally strike a blow at our own national identity, which,  in fact, are implied by Ankara's proposals. I am deeply convinced  that Turkey has a goal of turning Armenia into its own satellite.  Ankara has this very approach towards all neighboring states. And I  see no reason to form any exceptions for Armenia, "the academician  summed up.