YEREVAN. – Turkey’s standing, which had risen among Arab countries during the Arab Spring, will substantially fall as a result of the ongoing demonstrations in Turkey.   

Armenia’s National Academy of Sciences Institute of Orientology Director, turkologist Ruben Safrastyan noted the aforesaid during a press conference on Monday.

“Some Arab countries were admiring the Turkish model of governance, which was conducting an Islamic, but at the same time a democratic policy. It became apparent, however, that this democracy is primarily propaganda,” Safrastyan said.   

He added that the current protests in Turkey should be a lesson for those European forces that favor the country becoming a European Union (EU) member.

“Turkey is not a country that can become an EU member; it has a long way to go [in that respect],” Safrastyan stressed.  

As per the turkologist, the ongoing demonstrations reduce Turkey’s chances to become a regional leader.

“Also, there is an outflow of Western capital from Turkey, in connection with the demonstrations, and this may [negatively] impact Turkey’s economic development,” Ruben Safrastyan concluded.     

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am