Azerbaijan attempts to persuade Turkey not to neglect Baku’s interests, however it is faulty approach and will only impede Azerbaijani-Turkish relations, Manvel Sargsyan, expert of the Armenian Center for National and International Studies told NEWS.am.

Azerbaijan and Russia signed agreement on gas supply that openly contradicts with Turkey’s interests the same day when Armenia-Turkey football match took place. Yesterday Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan rejected Turkey’s proposal to transit the gas supply to Europe and seeks for alternative routes. Anti-Turkey protests were also held in Baku today. Turkish flags were removed from Martyr alley in Baku.

“I consider anti-Turkish hysteria can deepen more, as Azerbaijan has recently tried to link its successful actions with Turkey’s assistance. It is natural that Armenian-Turkish relations’ reconciliation threatens Azerbaijan. A number of statements was made, Russian-Azerbaijani political and economic games are the logical continuation of it,” the expert underlined, adding “I believe they will try to affect Turkish Parliament members to continue laying down Karabakh as precondition in Armenia-Turkey relations.”

However, Manvel Sargsyan deems this policy is advantageous for Azerbaijan. “The process is much deeper and great powers, including Russia are utterly interested in it. Azerbaijan has no other way. They will do their best, but Azerbaijani plan will back-fire. Azeris should try to carry out independent policy but to persuade Turkey to put away its national interests and solve local problems. It is wrongful approach, that will hinder Turkish-Azerbaijani relations,” the expert concluded.