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Transcript/ScriptTURKEY ARMENIA AZERBAIJAN
HEADLINE: Armenia steps up its push to pivot away from Moscow and look West
TEASER: Much of that effort depends on Turkey and rival Azerbaijan
PUBLISHED AT: 7/29/24, 2:08pm
BYLINE: Dorian Jones
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Istanbul.
VIDEOGRAPHER: Berke Bas DO NOT USE NAME FOR SECURITY REASONS.
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, MCY
VIDEO SOURCE (S): Original, Agencies AFP, DVIDS,
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 3:32
VID APPROVED BY: Baragona
TYPE: TV/R
UPDATE: DO NOT USE BERKE'S NAME FOR SECURITY REASONS.))
((INTRO))
[[Armenia’s military exercises with the United States in July and increased diplomatic contacts with western Europe suggest Yerevan continues its efforts to pivot away from Moscow. As Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul, the success of those efforts depends largely on Armenia’s rival, Azerbaijan, and ongoing, US-backed peace efforts.]]
((NARRATOR))
July's joint military exercises in ((Mandatory cg. US Department of Defense)) Armenia between Armenian and United States forces is, analysts say, the latest step in Yerevan's efforts - backed by Washington - to pivot away from its Russian neighbor's sphere of influence and more towards the West. ((end courtesy))
[[Radio Version: Eric Hacopian Political Consultant in Armenia]]
((Eric Hacopian, Political Consultant)) ((via Zoom))
“These are serious exercises, and they were followed up – either pre- or right before – with the news that there is going to be U.S. permanent representation in the Ministry of Defense of Armenia as advisors to join the French who are already there.
((Mandatory cg. US Department of Defense))
Essentially there is no other play but to join the West.”
((NARRATOR))
Armenia is landlocked and wants to reduce its economic dependence on Russia. It is pressing Turkey to open its border to provide a new gateway to Western markets.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 after ethnic Armenian forces seized the contested Azerbaijani enclave of Nagorno Karabakh. Azerbaijani forces recaptured the enclave last year, and analysts say opening the border now could coincide with Ankara’s goals to expand Turkey’s regional influence.
[[RADIO: Sinan Ulgen is an analyst with the Centre for Economics & Foreign Policy Studies, an Istanbul think tank.]]
(((Sinan Ulgen, Center for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies)) ((Via Zoom))
“Turkey has obviously very strong links to Azerbaijan, also very good relations with Georgia, but not with Armenia. And that's a predicament as we look at Turkey's overall policy in the Caucasus.”
((NARRATOR))
Washington is working to broker a permanent peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently saying that a deal is close.
With several issues unresolved, analysts say Baku sees Turkey's reopening of the Armenian border as important leverage.
[[RADIO VERSION: Farid Shafiyev is the Chairman of the Center of Analysis of International Relations in Baku.]]
((Farid Shafiyev, Center of Analysis of International Relations)) ((via Zoom))
“We believe at this stage, as we have not signed the peace agreement, it might send a wrong signal to Yerevan, to Armenia, that we don't need to come to agreement about the core issues, the mutual recognition of territorial integrity.”
((NARRATOR))
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has developed close ties with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, and is ruling out opening the border with Armenia until Baku's demands are met.
Turkish support helped Azerbaijan defeat Armenian-backed forces. Despite that support some analysts say Baku is dictating Turkey’s policy.
[[RADIO: Soli Ozel teaches international relations at Istanbul’s Kadir Has University.]]
((Soli Ozel, Kadir Has University)) ((Via Zoom))
“Azerbaijan is where it is, in good part because of Turkey's military assistance, intelligence assistance and all that. And it is befuddling to me that Turkey cannot open the borders with Armenia, which the Armenia both needs and wants, because of, Azerbaijan's veto...
...and especially if indeed, Azerbaijan, for one reason or another, believes that its interests are, once more, in turning toward Russia.”
((NARRATOR))
Azerbaijan's SOCAR energy company is the biggest foreign investor in Turkey, giving Baku powerful leverage over Ankara.
Analysts say any hope of reopening the Turkish-Armenian border appears to depend on the wishes of Azerbaijan's leadership.
((Dorian Jones, VOA News, Istanbul))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJuly 29, 2024 15:25 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
