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Transcript/ScriptFOR USAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TURKEY RUSSIA UKRAINE (TV)
HEADLINE: Turkey Caught in Russia-Ukraine Tensions
TEASER: With COVID vaccines, tourist revenue and drone sales at stake, observers say Ankara is coming under pressure from Russia.
PUBLISHED AT: Tuesday, 04/13/2021 3:02 pm
BYLINE: Dorian Jones
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Istanbul
VIDEOGRAPHER: Unnamed for Security Reasons
PRODUCER: Henry Hernandez
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, BR
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, AFP, APTN, Other (see courtesy)
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __
TRT: 3:04
VID APPROVED BY: BR
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE:
))
((INTRO)) [[With tensions escalating between Russia and Ukraine, Turkey is finding itself caught in the middle. Ankara – anxious to get Russian COVID vaccines and tourist revenue - faces a difficult choice as Kyiv seeks to purchase Turkish-made military drones. Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul.]]
((NARRATOR))
With Ukrainian and Russian forces facing off...
over Ukraine's Donbas region...
….Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has come out in support of Ukraine.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish President (male, Turkish, 9 sec):
"As Turkey, we have clearly defended Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.”
((NARRATOR))
Erdogan spoke during a recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
The two nations have a defense cooperation agreement, and analysts suggest Kyiv is looking to expand its fleet of Turkish-made military drones.
((Arda Mevlutoglu, Defense Analyst (IN ENGLISH))
((Mandatory cg: Skype))
“The latest performance of Turkish drones in various conflict areas such as Syria, Libya, and Nagorno-Karabakh also seems to (have) stimulated Ukraine’s motivation in using and deploying those drones in the critical areas such as Donbas.”
((NARRATOR))
Last year, Turkish military drones gave Azerbaijan an advantage in its fight against Russian-backed Armenian forces over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh enclave.
((Mandatory Courtesy: Baykar Technologies))
But the use of Turkish drones in Ukraine could raise tensions between Turkey and Russia.
((Huseyin Bagci, Director, Foreign Policy Institute (IN ENGLISH))
((Mandatory cg: Skype))
“I think if Ukrainians use Turkish drones against Russian tanks or cars, trucks, whatsoever, then we have a problem. It looks, of course, Turkey will sell another 25 drones. The contract is there.”
((NARRATOR))
On Monday, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov warned Ankara not to make further arms sales to Ukraine.
Meantime, Russia has temporarily suspended most flights and tourist travel to Turkey, citing concerns over COVID infections – though some analysts see the move as a sign of Moscow’s pressure.
The pandemic has highlighted the complexity of Turkish-Russian relations. With Turkey struggling to find enough vaccines, discussions have continued on plans for Russia to supply and possibly co-produce the shots with Turkey.
((Zaur Gasimov, University of Bonn (IN ENGLISH))
((Mandatory cg: Skype))
“We see that the relations with Moscow and Turkey they can digest the conflicts. So, the cooperation is so, so multilayered that it can overcome the smaller (conflictive) situation like this one, now around Ukrainian Turkish military cooperation.”
((NARRATOR))
For now, analysts see Russia continuing to pressure Turkey over Ukraine using vaccine cooperation as a reward and restrictions on tourist travel as punishment.
Between politics and pandemic, Turkish resorts – normally packed with Russian sun seekers – are likely to remain empty for some time to come.
((Dorian Jones, for VOA News, Istanbul))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateOctober 10, 2023 13:16 EDT
BylineDorian Jones
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English, US Agency for Global Media
