Armenia's close economic integration with Turkey and Azerbaijan is the key to peace in the region

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-Ahmad bey, does the realization and development of such a platform seem possible?

- The region is doomed to such cooperation. Such cooperation is very important from the perspective of ensuring general stability in the region in the future. At least because if Armenia is not integrated into any economic projects and its economy is not sustainable, if it does not become economically dependent on Azerbaijan and Turkey, they will continue to use Armenia against Azerbaijan at the first opportunity in the future. For this reason, Azerbaijan and Turkey are taking a very wise step. In order to eliminate such potential of Armenia, they want to tie this country to themselves very closely, both economically and in other forms. The statements made by the President of Turkey and the consistent statements made by the President of Azerbaijan over the past month clearly show the creation of an economic platform and the involvement of Armenia in it. It seems that the President of Turkey repeats and supports these views. At present, it is possible to eliminate the conflicts in the region by creating such an economic cooperation union and connecting all the countries of the region in this form. It should be noted that the dominant forces in the region are delegating their dominance to this economic union. The biggest political problem in the current situation may be related to this. But I emphasize once again that the region is doomed to such economic cooperation. Without such economic cooperation platforms, there will inevitably be a series of conflicts in the region. Therefore, even if it seems impossible, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and the forces working for general stability in the region must do everything possible to carry out this work.

- If this platform is realized, what will it give to the region?

- I would compare the current processes with the processes that took place on the European continent after the Second World War. It is known at that time that it was the tension between France and Germany that constantly and consistently created the conflict. And it was decided that they should unite the steel and iron industries in a common form, and create a broader framework for European cooperation by creating economic integration projects. As a result, we see the European Union today. The current processes and their consequences can be the first steps towards the emergence of a union like the European Union in the long run. After a while, many countries may be involved. Many countries participating in the European Eastern Partnership program are cooperating closely with Turkey and Azerbaijan. We can give Ukraine as an example. At present, Ukraine and Azerbaijan need to be more actively involved in issues related to Belarus. Moldova can also be mentioned. Given these factors, I think that such economic cooperation will turn the region into a center of power so that we can become a real center of Eurasia in the future. As I emphasized, such cooperation means delegating the economic and political dominance of some countries to the common union. This, in itself, will lead to very serious political and economic consequences.

- Such a platform may seem economically feasible. But it seems politically difficult. Because there are countries, such as Russia-Georgia, Azerbaijan-Armenia, which are in conflict with each other. Is it possible to have them on one platform?

- As you stressed, the emergence of such an economic platform is a politically complex issue. As I noted, this is very similar to the emergence of the European Union. At that time, as much as the EU countries tried to build their political alliances by creating economic union after the Second World War, the countries of the region must strive to build such a platform for their bright and healthy future. No matter what the political problems, they must take part in resolving them. As for the Azerbaijani-Armenian relations, we can see that there are people on the Armenian side who send a positive message in both the parliament and the government. They are not ordinary people for the Armenian society. I think that the Armenian society also understands in a sense that at the current stage of the Karabakh conflict, Armenia must get out of economic isolation in order to take advantage of the situation maximally. But the Russia-Georgia issue is really important. It should also be taken into account that very serious geopolitical processes are taking place in the region. One of such geopolitical processes is that Georgia now wants a consistent deployment of NATO troops in its country. The reason for this is the presence of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh, in Azerbaijan. Russian peacekeepers have entered the territory of Azerbaijan, and virtually, Russian troops are already present in all Eastern Partnership countries. Based on this, Georgia is trying to gain outside support. Russia sees and evaluates this. In this regard, it is possible to take a number of steps to prevent the entry of NATO forces into Georgia. And the first of these steps is to create a more tolerant and manageable situation in the region by reducing the deployment of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh and thus preventing the arrival of US forces or other new NATO forces in the region, as well as participating in such economic projects. can. This is also in Russia's interests. Russia already understands that it is more important to come out with minimal losses in the process. Therefore, they could not prevent the arrival of Turkish troops regarding stabilizing the conflict in Karabakh and agreed to it. Now the situation may be the same in Georgia. Such cooperation can play a very positive role through the prism of Russia and Georgia.

- Does it seem possible for Armenia to be on this platform?

- As I said, there are clear messages in Armenia about participation in this platform. By participating in this platform, sane people in Armenia are trying to get out of their economic isolation to compensate for the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh. The number of people thinking in this direction will increase in Armenia. We see that the number of people protesting against Pashinyan is very small. People are also trying to take advantage of this situation to improve their current economic situation. But at the same time, it should be taken into account that if Pashinyan is pro-Western, as he claims, and there are many pro-Western forces in Armenia, it turns out that this platform will create conditions for Armenia's cooperation with Western countries. It is necessary to take into account the points in this direction. At the same time, by joining the union, Iran can create a certain economic security union for itself. Iran will also be interested in creating such an alliance. Iran will understand that it must be on such a platform to balance Turkey's strengthening in the region to some extent with its own participation. Iran's participation will force Armenia to participate. The positions of Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia on the issue are clear. Russia has stated its position by signing a tripartite statement of peace. Iran's interest does not leave any choice for Armenia. In fact, all the steps that Armenia's foreign policy will take in this direction will depend on the agreement reached by all the countries around it, which will force Armenia to participate in this union.

- It is also interesting that whether this platform will be accepted by the world community and the West. The West's relations with Russia and Turkey are not so warm. How will the West react to a platform where these two countries will be?

- Indeed, the construction that Western countries have built in the region so far is failing. It was already clear from the second week of the conflict that many organizations were in dire need of reform after the conflict. If the European Union's Eastern Partnership platform has failed to establish a cooperation between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the region and to prevent the conflict, then certain changes need to be made. It should also be taken into account that there is a need to make changes in the OSCE in the same way. Europe understands this. Europe itself is on the verge of change so that it is striving for change within itself. In this case, the prospects are more realistic for Europe to first accept the birth of the geoeconomic situation and then accept the birth of the geopolitical situation in order to ensure security and stability in the region. It should be noted that we see very different multiethnic and multi-confessional groups on this new platform. It is commendable that countries that respect religious values, such as Orthodox Russia and Georgia, Muslim Turkey and Azerbaijan, Shiite Iran, and Armenia, come together. It should be taken into account that a very colorful, mosaic picture emerges from the ethnic point of view. From this point of view, I think that some time ago in the European Union, we saw the promotion of this idea in many academic publications. Having such a platform for economic cooperation that can create stability in the region is also in their interests. At the same time, it should be noted that the United States and many European countries now see China as their main geopolitical rival. We must take into account that Iran is a country that closely cooperates with China, Russia is a country that is angry with Europe and cooperates with China. Turkey is currently in a very serious confrontation with China over the Uyghur issue. The creation of such an alliance provides a platform that could prevent China from advancing to the West, which is in Europe's interest.

- What can this platform give to Azerbaijan? What are the pros and cons? Will this not damage Azerbaijan's relations with the West?

- The author of the main idea of ​​this construction is Azerbaijan. Therefore, there will be more successes for the Azerbaijani side than negative ones. This will be an opportunity to increase Azerbaijan's economic opportunities, ensure the economic and political integration of other countries in the region, as well as increase Azerbaijan's cooperation with Azerbaijanis around the world. It will increase Azerbaijan's opportunities in the long run. At the same time, Azerbaijan was the author of another geopolitical project in the region at one time. The GUAM project (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova) was an idea that emerged as a result of cooperation with the United States. Later, the lack of political and military sincerity between the countries within GUAM often weakened the role of GUAM. It was replaced by a kind of Eastern Partnership platform. Western countries already understand that if they distanced themselves from the GUAM project at one time and replaced it with another project, against the background of geopolitical changes taking place in the world today, Azerbaijan itself is again coming up with another geopolitical project, and it has a moral right to put forward it as an alternative to the projects proposed by some European countries. Initially, there may be a certain reaction, but later this idea will be welcomed by everyone.