Azernews.Az

The Caucasus Peace and Cooperation Platform, supported by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was actually created by Russia, an Azerbaijani analyst has said.
Vafa Guluzada, who previously served as state adviser, said former Russian President Boris Yeltsin had introduced a similar initiative in 1996, called the Caucasus House, and brought together the leaders of all regional republics, including the heads of the Russian Federation, during a meeting in the town of Kislovodsk. The goal was to set up a new entity controlled by regional powerhouse, Russia.
"Now, under occupation of both the northern and South Caucasus, it is inconceivable how Mr. Erdogan plans to make this happen," the analyst said.
He emphasized that, at present, the entry of both Azerbaijan and Armenia, long-time foes, into the Caucasus union is impossible, saying this idea is aimed at deception and diverting attention from core issues by making unfeasible proposals. He said Turkey currently places its relations with Russia "many times above" those with South Caucasus republics Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia.
The Turkish premier made the proposal to establish the group after an armed conflict between Russia and Georgia in the Georgian breakaway republic of South Ossetia. He has visited Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan to promote the idea. Ankara said it would also hold talks with Armenian officials on the issue.
The hard-line Garabagh Liberation Organization (GLO) has criticized Erdogan`s proposal. In a statement, it decisively condemned what it called Azerbaijan`s attempts to join the Caucasus Union and Turkey`s intention to negotiate the matter with aggressor Armenia. Since the early 1990s, Armenia has occupied over 20% of Azerbaijan`s internationally-recognized territory. The GLO said, in its statement, that Armenia is failing, both to pull out of the occupied Azerbaijani territories and to relinquish its territorial claims against Turkey, as well as continuing the spreading of alleged "genocide" claims throughout the world.
"In these conditions, setting up a union comprising aggressor and terrorist Armenia, is out of the question…The Turkish prime minister`s initiative, either knowingly or not, serves to justifying aggressor Armenia`s actions," the group maintained.
It called on Ankara to withdraw the proposal, which does not meet the interests of its own and Baku.
The Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry spokesman Khazar Ibrahim said Baku supports such projects and proposals if their realization benefits the region.
"However, Azerbaijan has received no specific details from the Turkish Foreign Ministry regarding the establishment of the Caucasus union. Therefore, it is difficult to express a specific view to that end," the spokesman said.