Expert: Turkey’s “zero problems with neighbors” policy non-viable

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkologist Ruben Melkonyan commented on possible actions in Iran in view of recent downscaling of Turkey-Israel ties.

“To prevent Ankara from increasing its presence in Islamic world, Iran may start an anti-Turkish propaganda. However, Tehran, which, shares Turkey’s dislike for Israel, might refrain from mentioning damaged Ankara-Jerusalem relations,” the expert told a news conference in Yerevan.

“Recent developments prove Turkey’s policy of “zero problems with neighbors” to be a mere illusion, since apparently, the country has problems with almost all of its neighbors,” Melkonyan said.

In his September 6 statement, Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said more sanctions against Israel could follow the expulsion of the Israel's ambassador and suspension of military ties. Turkey also suspended military deals last week after Israel refused to apologize for the botched Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound protest flotilla that killed nine pro-Palestinian activists last year. Israel has expressed regret for the loss of lives. Erdogan described the raid as "savagery" and accused Israel of acting like "a spoiled boy" in the region.