İnterview with Azerbaijan’s renowned political expert Zardusht Alizade.
– What are your comments on Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Iran?
Zardusht Alizade: I welcome this visit. Turkey and Iran are neighbors with common borders and common interests. Both countries are important players in world political arena. Presence of warm relations between them is very important and positive for the entire South Caucasus.
Q: Why we did not witness Turkey-Iran rapprochement earlier?
A: This is a question that should be asked from the Turkish side. Why all these happened is a question of human rhetoric. This is similar to tedious to talk about why there are children with both bad and good grades taught by the same teachers in one class. Much more important is that today we are witnessing the fact that Turkey, led by the Gul-Erdogan tandem, pursues a very efficient, competent foreign policy.
Q: To what extent warm Turkey-Iran relations meet statemenst of a number of experts who argue that Turkey pursues its foreign policy under pressure by the White House which has tense relations with Iran?
A: Turkey does not form its foreign policy under the U.S. pressure to the extent the experts argue. Turkey has warm and strategic ties with the U.S., it is a NATO member where U.S. has the primary role. In the end, the U.S. role in the world can not be minimized.
Of course, Turkey’s leadership takes all these factors into account. However, it pursues its foreign policy on basis of not only current geopolitical realities, but also on the basis of its own national interests. The recent significant improvements in Turkish-Iranian relations testifies to this. The Turkish leadership pursues a policy of normalizing relations with all its neighbors, which is indeed is a right move.
Q: Does Turkey aim to take a lead in the region by its recently intensified efforts?
A: No. For example, If I have normal relationship based on mutual respect with you and with someone you dislike, it does not mean that I seek to establish my own hegemony. So, Turkey is simply trying to have a fairly cordial relations with all countries in the South Caucasus region. Its willingness deserves only appraisal.
Q: What policy should Azerbaijan pursue under current circumstances?
A: Azerbaijan is a fairly small country which needs to have the greatest possible number of friends and allies. Therefore, we need to follow Turkey’s example and build a good relations based on mutual respect with Turkey, Russia, the United States and Iran. Foreign policy based on respect for its own national interests and mutual respect with all countries in the region will help Azerbaijan to solve the challenges it faces.
/Day.Az/
