From the "Karabakh Summit" coordinated by the Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin Palace, remarkable decisions were made that will shape the politics of the Caucasus.
Speaking to the Milli Gazete, Prof. Dr. Salih Yılmaz said, "It is seen that the governments of Azerbaijan and Armenia, which have just emerged from the war, quickly reached a consensus on economic and infrastructure issues."
While the effects of the Karabakh Summit held in Moscow, the capital of Russia, are still being discussed, striking details about the summit have emerged. It was seen that the Armenian government, which suffered a heavy defeat in the 44-day war with Azerbaijan, returned 70 percent of the occupied Karabakh to Azerbaijan, was trying to save its economy from the quagmire, and Azerbaijan, which won the war, was trying to increase its economic gains.
President of the Ankara Russian Studies Institute (RUSEN) and Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Salih Yılmaz evaluated the latest developments in the Caucasus line to Milli Gazete.
FINAL DECISIONS REGARDING THE ECONOMIC OPENING
Expressing that commercial plans stood out at the Karabakh summit in Moscow, Prof. Dr. Salih Yılmaz said, "After the ceasefire agreement signed in November, Russia is making efforts to open economic projects and transportation lines. The meeting of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and the Prime Minister of Armenia in Moscow on January 11 will be a good start for ending the war psychology that emerged after the Karabakh War and focusing on economic opening. It is important to make concrete decisions in this meeting. The decision to open the corridor between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan will bring economic benefits not only for Azerbaijan, but also for Armenia and Russia. Russia, thus using the road and railway line without the need to Georgia via Turkey will have the chance to reach Syria. Armenia, on the other hand, will have the opportunity to obtain easier and cheaper commercial goods to its biggest trade partner Russia. The working group created until March 1, 2021 will bring the projects to the table. It seems that the parties quickly reached a consensus on economic and infrastructure issues".
AZERBAIJAN ACCEPTED THE INTEGRITY OF SOIL TO BOTH RUSSIA AND ARMENIA
Stating that the MOSCOW Summit paved the way for regional developments that could affect Turkey, Prof. Dr. Salih Yılmaz, "The initiation of a railway connection between Russia and Armenia from the Azerbaijani territories may prove that the parties are aware of the new reality and that Armenia is also striving for peace. Azerbaijan imposed its territorial integrity on both Russia and Armenia. Armenia is no longer taking steps to adapt to the real rules of the world, abandoning the dream of seeing the land of others as its own. In the next process it can be expected to be put between Turkey-Armenia normalization steps. Turkey, a provision may consider opening its border with Armenia without waiting for economic use," he said.
PASHINYAN WANTS TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS WITH TURKEY
Stating that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has learned lessons from the Karabakh defeat, Prof. Dr. Salih Yılmaz said, "After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Armenia has been ruled by corruption and illusions under the domination of the Armenian diaspora and the Karabakh clan for the last 30 years. Their resources were looted. It can be said that the administrators put the people to sleep with the so-called Armenian genocide and Karabakh dreams. We see that Pashinyan acted with the awareness of this situation. Azerbaijan-Armenia and the Turkey-Armenia normalization can take place in the short term in order to leave the administration of the Armenian diaspora and hand over the administration to the Armenian people," he said.
THE DREAM OF RUSSIA OF REACHING THE MEDITERRANEAN IS CONCRETE
Prof. Salih Yılmaz said, "Pashinyan's bringing up the issue of the status of Karabakh is more of a statement about domestic politics. Pashinyan also knows that the issue of Karabakh status is no longer on his own initiative. It is understood from the failure of the protests organized by the opposition that the people of Armenia are tired of the wars with Azerbaijan and do not want to send their children to war. The peace environment in the Caucasus will create a favorable and profitable environment for all of Russia, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Russia's gateway to Europe through Ukraine will be formed over Azerbaijan and Armenia from now on. Turkey will gain significant economic gains from this new situation. It seems that Russia will realize its dream of reaching the Mediterranean for years with the Turkey-Syria connection through the Megri corridor," he added.