Turkey and Russia struggle for South Caucasian region

PanARMENIAN.Net - "Turkey and Russia lead an active struggle for the South Caucasian region, and we should confess that currently Turkey has a little outdistanced Russia," Director of RA NAS Institute for Oriental Studies doctor Ruben Safrastian stated to a press conference in Yerevan. He said, Georgia and Azerbaijan are moving towards West, which means collapse of Russian diplomacy in the region. "However, we must underline that a more global opposition is on the way between Sunnis and Shias. With the help of the United States Sunnis are trying to form a union of Sunni states. Most recently the first meeting was held in Pakistan with participation of Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. But soon after it representatives of Iran and Saudi Arabia organized a meeting in order to stop the process. Iran outweighs Turkey and Azerbaijan in regional policy, which proceeds from Armenia's interests," Safrastian stressed, adding that the U.S. unnecessarily politicizes opposition between Shias and Sunnis.



He also noted formation of a one more alliance is on the way between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia aimed against Armenia and Russia. "However, Russia will always be present in the South Caucasian region and the Middle East supporting Iran," doctor Safrastian underscored.