So far, Turkish-Armenian warming has not brought anything good to Azerbaijan - political scientist Teymur Gasimli

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- I propose to start with the information component of the Turkish-Armenian modern relations. The Azerbaijani press circulated information about the looting of two Armenian rescuers in the earthquake zone. You follow the Turkish press. Is this fake or true?

- I have not seen such information in the Turkish press, and the Turkish prosecutor's office did not report on the looting of foreign rescuers during the removal of rubble. I think that such reports, whether they are fake or real, cannot influence the development and rapprochement of Turkish-Armenian relations. Azerbaijan is closely following the warming of relations between Yerevan and Ankara, and I think that Turkey will not make the mistake they made in 2009, when Armenian and Turkish negotiators in Switzerland signed a peace document behind Azerbaijan's back. I am sure that Ankara informs Baku about the negotiations with the Armenians.

- What is the political significance of sending Armenian rescuers to Turkey, to the earthquake zone?

- A group of rescuers from Armenia is currently working in Turkey. I consider this step of Yerevan as a continuation of the history of mutual assistance between the two countries.

Let me remind you of the Spitak earthquake in 1988, when the government of Turgut Ozal aided Armenia by sending cargo through the checkpoint in Igdir. Then Turkey closed the border with Armenia, thus responding to the war unleashed by the Armenians against Azerbaijan and to the territorial claims of Yerevan. After the  earthquake hit Turkey in 1999, Armenia helped its neighbor. Subsequently, there were no positive steps towards each other. During the pandemic, Turkey helped Armenia, few people know about it.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed his condolences in connection with the February 6 earthquake in Turkey, as did the Armenian Ambassador Special Envoy for Turkish-Armenian Relations. On February 8, a group of Armenian rescuers consisting of 28 people was sent to the city of Adiyaman, which suffered from the earthquake. Now they are working there, they saved two people, the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported. I will note the complexity of the Adiyaman region in connection with the Kurds living there. Yesterday Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan visited Adiyaman, met with Armenian rescuers there and presented the second humanitarian cargo.

- How does the warming of Turkish-Armenian relations affect Azerbaijan?

- I repeat that the Turkish government is not repeating the mistake of 2009, which hit the Turkish-Azerbaijani relations. Developing ties with Armenia, Ankara maintains a dialogue with Baku. President I. Aliyev and President R. T. Erdogan expressed a positive attitude towards the negotiations between Ankara and Yerevan. The talks are being held by special envoys of the two countries. Turkey's special representative at the talks on the settlement of relations with Armenia, Serdar Kylych, is actively engaged in the work entrusted to him, leading the process to the restoration of relations, the opening of borders. But Erdogan's meeting with Pashinyan in Prague remains undisclosed. The Armenian press reports that the secrecy of information indicates the unresolved territorial dispute and other conflict issues between the countries.

The Azerbaijani side should closely follow what is happening. To date, the process between Turkey and Armenia has not brought us anything good, and I do not expect any benefit for us in the near future. It is important that what is happening does not harm our interests.

Pashinyan skillfully and comprehensively pursues a cunning policy. Using the earthquake in Turkey, he changes the Armenian-Turkish relations and took a step towards rapprochement. The trip of Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan to Ankara indicates this. If the warming of relations between the two countries leads to the liberation of Khankendi from the separatists and the opening of the Zangezur corridor, then we can talk about success. While nothing of the kind is visible, we can only closely monitor the process.

- In Turkish domestic policy, the beginning of rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia became the second topic after the earthquake. What is the range of positions in the political field of Turkey?

- The process that began between Turkey and Armenia was the result of the 2020 war in Karabakh. The two capitals have appointed special envoys for the talks. The diplomat Serdar Gylych, who is responsible for negotiations with Armenia, is a very interesting person who wants to open the border with Armenia. There were meetings between the parties to the process in Moscow, Vienna, and Antalya. As a result, direct flights between the two countries and the transport of goods across borders began. Internet traffic to Armenia through Turkey has opened, the ban on visiting Turkish sites for Armenian citizens has been lifted, Armenians can apply for a visa online to travel to Turkey. But in general, at a high level, there is no real improvement in relations between countries.

The Turkish press gave little coverage of the humanitarian aid to Armenia. I think because the Turks consider the possible negative reaction in Azerbaijan, which is leading in helping Turkey. The Armenian participation in the rescue of the victims was covered in the Armenian media in Turkey, and in the leading Turkish newspapers.

Turkish parties also do not attach importance to the issue of Armenian assistance. Only on Tuesday, the leader of the parliamentary faction, Dovlet Bahceli (National Movement Party), named Armenia in the list of countries helping Turkey, and expressed gratitude. I will also note the Democratic Party of Nations, which has deputies of Armenian nationality who are promoting Armenia in Turkey. The main political forces of Turkey did not make statements about the help of the Armenians.