Sergey Shakaryants: missile crisis forming around Caucasus

PanARMENIAN.Net - “Superpowers, namely Russia and the United States, are waging struggle for installation of anti-missile systems worldwide. The US plans to install missile defense shields in Romania and Turkey. In response, Russia speaks about stationing S-400 systems in some CIS states, as well as Iran.” Sergey Shakaryants told a news conference in Yerevan.

“A missile crisis is forming around Caucasus, with no forecasts as to the date of its termination,” he said. “Global processes like this seem to push Karabakh issue, Armenia-Turkey border opening and Iran’s nuclear program to the background.”

Dwelling on the impact of Russia–US missile crisis on Karabakh conflict settlement and Armenia-Turkey rapprochement, Mr. Shakaryants said that the issues above will remain frozen until the missile crisis is solved. “Still, a moment may come for Azerbaijan, driven to desperation, to resume hostilities,” he added.

“Turkish nationalists have apprehensions about the Armenian-Turkish border opening, intensified by current Kurdization of Turkish regions, adjacent to Armenia. Nationalists are concerned that Armenians and Kurds may unite around a common goal, which runs counter to Turkey’s national interests,” the expert concluded.