ECO summit will show whether Turkey-Iran alliance is possibleMarch 11, 2009 - 14:47 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The 10th Economic Cooperation Organization summit will show whether a Turkey-Iran alliance is possible, a Russian expert said."This meeting will be collision of great-power Persian nationalism, flavored with tough ideology of Shiite Islam, against great-power Turkish nationalism assimilating the Summi heritage," said Yevgeni Satanovsky, president of the institute of Middle East studies at the RF academy of sciences. "Transit of Iranian gas through Turkey is not a Nabucco issue. It's a key to relations between Russia and EU, U.S and Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan," he said. "Turkey is a crossroad of strategic interests of world powers. Its position will determine the balance of forces in the region. Turkey is no longer satisfied with the role of NATO right-wing member, standing in a queue for European Union membership. It sounds its neighbors, develops alliances and causes clashes between rivals," Satanovsky said, Kommersant daily reports. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. |