Let Armenia remain isolated: George Friedman

Turkey should keep Armenia in isolation, the head and the founder of the US think tank STRATFOR, George Friedman, has said in an interview with Turkish ATV and Sabah newspaper.

According to him, the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement can be effective only in case Russian troops are withdrawn from Armenia, otherwise this process will be of no importance.

“The main topic of the negotiations with Yerevan should be not Nagorno Karabakh, but rather the reduction of the Russian presence in Armenia. The presence of the Russian troops on your border does not meet your interests. The Caucasus should become a buffer zone against Russia,” he has added.

Speaking about the opening of the Armenia-Turkey border Mr Friedman has mentioned that the opening itself is not in Turkey’s interests.

“In such conditions, the opening of the border with Armenia is of no use for Turkey. On the contrary, Yerevan may take advantage of it. It is illogical to offend Azerbaijan for Armenia’s sake. Let Armenia remain isolated,” Mr Friedman has said.