On January 30, 2021, a joint Turkish-Russian Monitoring Centre located near the liberated village of Marzili, Aghdam region was opened. The Turkish personnel of the Monitoring Centre will be led by Major General Abdulla Gatyrchy while Russian personnel will be led by Major General Viktor Felorenko. The centre will be guarded by the Azerbaijani army.
Meanwhile, with the opening of the centre, many questions arose. In particular, what the opening of the monitoring centre will change and whether it will affect Russian-Turkish relations, and most importantly, what the further actions of Armenia will be.
These and other questions were answered for the Eurasia Diary by the director of the Centre for the Study of New Turkey, the Russian political expert Yuri Mavashev.
According to the expert, the opening of the centre is a logical and political continuation of the process of November 10, 2020: "The joint statement of the parties provided for the emergence of a monitoring centre. Now there is a way to put the previously reached agreements into practice."
As for Russian-Turkish relations, the expert noted that the world community can once again make sure that bilateral relations between Russia and Turkey are constructive and businesslike and stand on a solid basis of a balance of interests.
Speaking about the reaction of Armenia, the political expert said that it was obvious and understandable: “The politicians of this country will inevitably work to undermine any agreements in information. Even those that objectively take into account Armenian interests. Therefore, Armenia is doomed to failure. They did not give an honest and sensible assessment of the results of the war. That was only the assessment of their own behaviour. Perhaps, being in a position of servitude would suit them the best."
In conclusion, referring to the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, Mavashev stated that they will continue to be at an impasse until there are new politicians, new thinking, new vision in Armenia.
By Huseyn Safarov
Translated by Elnur Enveroglu