MOSCOW (Combined Sources)–Russia is ready to support efforts to normalize relations between Armenia and Turkey with economic projects in energy, transport and communications, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigori Karasin said in an interview with the Respublika Armenia newspaper on Wednesday, the Azeri Today.az news portal reported.
“Russia, for its part, is ready to support the process through further implementation of cooperation projects with Armenia and Turkey, Karasin said. “The Russian Inter RAO EES Company, which has energy facilities in Armenia, is exporting electricity to Turkey and the Russian Railway CJSC is ready to ensure uninterrupted rail communication between the two countries through the Dogukapy-Akhuryan checkpoint,” Karasin said.
“Normalization of the relations between Armenia and Turkey will help reduce tension, strengthen peace, security and stability in the Caucasus, as well as revive bilateral economic contacts, which will improve the socio-economic situation in both the states. ” he said, urging the two sides to quickly ratify and implement the protocols.
“Both Armenia and Turkey are friendly countries for us, and we are interested in good neighborly relations between them,” Karasin said, adding that he sees nothing in the recently signed agreements between Armenia and Turkey that can be regarded as damaging to Russia’s interests.
According to Karasin, the signing of the protocols on October 10 was the “result of the Armenian and Turkish partners’ consistent and pragmatic work to settle complicated issues, which confirms the Armenian and Turkish leaders’ determination to establish good neighborly relations.”
Russophiles, please notice this: “Both Armenia and Turkey are friendly countries for us.”
Putting NATO member Turkey which has traditionally been hostile to Russia in the same category as Armenia is an insult, but of course Russia does not care what Armenians think, does it?
Russia is not really an ally of Armenia, and the historical record shows that. Russia gave away Western Armenian land to Turkey. Russia supported Ataturk. Russia gave Karabagh to Azerbaijan. Russia barely ever mentions the Armenian genocide. Russia does not know who its friends are. We Armenians need to wake up.
Russia knows very well what its interests are. The more it pushes Armenia towards Turkey the more it gets Azerbaijan at its knees. Armenia can not really distance itself from Russia while getting Azerbaijan dancing under Russian music will block NABUCCO. Russia and Turkey can not be allies naturally, they remember about each other when they both are pressured by the West. Current Turkish overture to Russia is not different. Armenia needs to be flexible enough not to suffer from this temporary Russian-Turkish friendship. Turks try to justify themselves in the genocide accusations by pointing out Russia as the one putting Ottoman Armenian Population against the Ottoman state. I do not think that Russia is ready to share with the Turks the responsibility for the Armenian Genocide though. So their friendship boundaries are limited by the Armenian efforts to get the Genocide recognized by the major players. This factor can not be overlooked by the USA and at some point they will forse Turkey to blame Russia for the Armenian Genocide. So things are not that bad, as long as we Armenians are flexible and concentrate on building a normal country.