Turkey transit country for U.S.
The United States uses Turkey as a transit country between Europe and Asia, political scientist Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan told a news conference in Yerevan.
This state of affairs is economically beneficial for Turkey and it will never step back, according to him. "Any talk about significance of the air bases and transit of cargo for the U.S. troops in Iraq is not serious. There are plenty of states in the region that would gladly host the U.S. bases. As to U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates' statement that 70% of fuel for the American troops is transported via Turkey, it is a transparent lie. The fuel is conveyed from Iraq to the United States but Turkey has nothing to do with it," he said.
"The U.S. has lost almost all its strategic allies and is seeking for new ones. For example, Iraq fits the role a new ally while Turkey is incapable to assist in Bush administration's war against Iran," Melik-Shahnazaryan said.
This state of affairs is economically beneficial for Turkey and it will never step back, according to him. "Any talk about significance of the air bases and transit of cargo for the U.S. troops in Iraq is not serious. There are plenty of states in the region that would gladly host the U.S. bases. As to U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates' statement that 70% of fuel for the American troops is transported via Turkey, it is a transparent lie. The fuel is conveyed from Iraq to the United States but Turkey has nothing to do with it," he said.
"The U.S. has lost almost all its strategic allies and is seeking for new ones. For example, Iraq fits the role a new ally while Turkey is incapable to assist in Bush administration's war against Iran," Melik-Shahnazaryan said.
