Turkey, Turkey to the End!

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has reportedly given an interview to representatives of the Turkish media, an announcement he made on his social media accounts.

Armenian media, citing their sources, have already reported that Pashinyan discussed the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, the unconditional opening of the border, as well as a revision of the attitude towards the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Additionally, he expressed readiness to ensure unimpeded rail transportation through Meghri.

Shortly after news of Pashinyan’s meeting with Turkish media broke—funded by the Armenian budget, according to Armenian sources—pro-government propaganda declared that the interview was a victory. They claimed it had successfully broken the “information monopoly of Ilham Aliyev in the Turkish media.” In other words, the propaganda revealed the main goal of Pashinyan’s entire foreign policy: to become Ankara’s partner in the region, functionally and strategically replacing Azerbaijan.

In other words, the propaganda, which often articulates what Pashinyan is not yet able to say out loud, claims that the fundamental priority of Armenia’s policy under Pashinyan is not the so-called European integration, but rather the consistent “opening of all doors for Turkey.” This strategy, in turn, should allow Yerevan to replace Azerbaijan as Ankara’s main regional partner.

Pashinyan is a political and ideological protégé of Armenia’s first president, Levon Ter-Petrosyan. In 2008, during the pre-election and post-election period, Pashinyan and Ter-Petrosyan used the slogan “Fight, fight to the end!” Pashinyan’s policy as head of Armenia corresponds to the slogan “Turkey, Turkey to the end!” Let’s note again: from a self-preservation standpoint, Pashinyan’s actions appear logical. Realizing that Turkey can promise him scanty guarantees of personal security, he is trying to integrate the country into the Turkic world under Erdogan’s influence.

Another thing is also important here: whether Pashinyan realizes it or not, his attempt to become what Ilham Aliyev is for Turkey effectively challenges the Azerbaijani president “for a place in the Erdogan sun.” This could provoke Azerbaijan to take action against Armenia.

Think about it.…