Ban on weapons sales to Turkey has 'temporary effect' – Turkologist

Amid the deepening crisis over Syria, the move by different world countries to block weapons sale to Turkey bears only a temporary charcter, a Yerevan-based expert in Turkish studies said Tuesday, citing Ankara's ″long-term plans″ on the Syrian territory.

In an interview with Tert.am, Gevorg Petrosyan also questioned Turkish President Recep Tasyyip Edogan's recent statement saying that his country ″has no eye″ on Syria.

″I don't think Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is sincere in his statement - given that those territories in north-eastern Syria are very important for Turkey. Turkey has demonstratively tried, over the course of history, to expand its country's territory in didfferent historical epochs. And I think it follows suit also this time as it [expansion] is among Turkey's major concerns,″ he noted.

″Turkey has not just temporarily entered into Syria,″ the expert added, citing Erdogan's ambitions to ensure a long-term presence on the country's territory.

″By entering into the Syrian territory, Erdogan is also trying to hamper, in different ways, the efforts towards creating a Kurdish autonomy. Another key objective that Turkey pursues is to create the kind of ethnic proportion that would prevent the Kurds from being a majority.″

As for the ban on the arms supply, the expert described it as an attempt ″to gain benefits in the short run″ by exercising pressure upon Turkey in an effort to "coerce the country into concessions".

Asked whether Armenia's humanitarian presence in Syria (as part of Russia's peacekeeping mission) does not run counter to the country's tough stance on the Turkish offensives (given that Russia openly backs Turkey's actions), Petrosyan ruled out any controversies. ″Considering the Russian-Syrian relations, as well as the fact that the Damascus authorities themselves sent government forces to join the [Syrian] Kurds, Russia is openly opposed to the Turkish interests. Turkey will, in all  likelihood, have problems with Russia after this turn of events depending on the future steps by Erdogan,″ he added.

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