Turkey shows Russia how to use 'soft power' on the 'Armenian issue'

Erevan is seeking to move closer to Ankara, believing that it is now the one setting the rules in the Caucasus region, not Moscow

Changes in Armenian foreign policy have always been surprising. Erevan claims it is ready to open the border with Turkey and establish diplomatic relations "starting tomorrow". Ruben Rubinyan, the deputy speaker of the Armenian National Assembly, has made this statement.

Rubinyan said: "In the coming days, meetings will be held between Armenia and Turkey. The agenda includes the issues of relations between Armenia and Turkey, as well as subsequent steps to be taken." The topics to be discussed at these meetings include restoring the historic bridge of Ani and building the Gyumri-Kars railway.

This meeting between Armenia and Turkey is the first after Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the United States reached an agreement on the Zangazur corridor (also known as the "Trump Corridor").

Since Armenia's independence in 1991, Erevan and Ankara have never established diplomatic relations. The relationship between the two countries has remained tense, due to Turkey's stance in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Turkey's denial of the Armenian genocide during the Ottoman Empire, and disagreements over the approval of the Treaty of Kars, which was signed between the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic, the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, and Turkey. Talks to normalize relations between the two countries only began a few years ago. So what is the reason for Armenia's current proposal to restore diplomatic relations with Turkey?

The newspaper "Pravda" ("SP" is the Russian abbreviation for this newspaper) interviewed Andrei Suzdaltsev, Deputy Dean of the Institute of World Economy and Politics.

- Erevan hopes for security guarantees from the West, particularly France, where a large Armenian diaspora resides. Politically, Armenia has long been maneuvering between Turkey and Azerbaijan. The dispute over the Zangazur corridor has already been inflamed, but ultimately Armenia actually agreed to hand over part of its territory to a private American company - these companies will be responsible for guarding the Trump-named Zangazur corridor. However, one thing is puzzling in this situation: why wasn't the issue of opening the border with Turkey discussed with Russia? After all, the border of Armenia is actually guarded by Russian border guards, and Russian troops are stationed in the Gyumri military base in Armenia. In my opinion, this is a complete disregard for Russia as a geopolitical partner.

"Pravda": Why do we tolerate all this? After all, Russia has not made any statements about it yet...

- I have a feeling that we are compromising with Turkey and Azerbaijan. Obviously, we cannot afford to open a "second front" in the South Caucasus, so we have reconciled with the president of Azerbaijan - after all, they still hold Russian citizens hostage. Moreover, Putin and Pashinyan had a relatively moderate negotiation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, which in the eyes of some Armenians became a signal: "anything can be done!" Of course, both Armenia and Azerbaijan clearly know that Russia's main focus is currently on the special military operation (SVO), so they are taking advantage of the opportunity to make deals behind our backs.

"Pravda": But the special military operation will eventually end. It is evident now that Russia's regional policy needs significant adjustments, and it should start now... Especially considering that our policies in the neighboring regions - more accurately, policy mistakes - are affecting the domestic situation in Russia. For example, in the case of the diaspora, they obviously saw our compromises in the Caucasus and the "tolerance" in Central Asia, and thus hope to live by their own rules in Russia.

- Of course, it's time to draw "red lines". We must not allow outsiders from Central Asian and South Caucasian countries to set their own rules in our cities. But the root cause of all this is that we gave them reasons to treat us like this. We are the ones who are to blame.

"Pravda": Where will this "friendship" between Armenia and Turkey eventually lead? After all, it is well known that the "Armenian issue" is a complex set of issues for Turkey, whose roots date back to the second half of the 19th century...

- What will happen in the end? Turkey will not make concessions, and Armenia will not be able to impose its conditions there. Turkey's territorial demands will not disappear, and I expect this issue to escalate soon. Where will the Armenians in a difficult situation flee to? They will have to go to "bad" Russia. Ultimately, those who will pay for our ambiguous policy in the South Caucasus will not be the rulers, but the Russian people. - This political scientist concluded.

An unexpected development has occurred in Russia's "soft power" policy in Armenia - Armenian students can enjoy preferential policies for free higher education in Russian universities. Currently, 80,000 foreign citizens have applied for free higher education in Russia.

These foreign applicants primarily choose universities in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Among the students coming for study, hundreds come from related countries, India, African countries, and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, with the largest group coming from Armenia. Why does this country, which plans to join the EU and also allows American private military companies to operate within its borders, receive such priority?

At the same time, hundreds of thousands of Russians are struggling to secure places for free higher education, thinking about the Unified State Exam (EGE), saving money for housing, paying for tutoring classes, and sometimes even giving up entirely - because the cost of education has become unaffordable. Yet, in this context, this "free welfare feast" continues. What is the logic behind this? "Pravda" interviewed Vadim Trukhachev, a doctor of history and political scientist.

- During my 12 years of teaching at the Russian State Humanitarian University (RGGU), I have trained several Armenian students. All of them went to work in Europe or the United States after graduation, bringing no benefits to their home country, and none of the Armenian students held pro-Russian views. This is a dead end of the state policy we have implemented in Armenia. The much-discussed "soft power" has turned into a powerless "liquid power" (literally "fluid power", a play on words implying that the "soft power" policy has failed and lacks strength).

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7548006243035284010/

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