YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. Russian expert on Turkish studies, director of the center of the Oriental research, international relations and public diplomacy Vladimir Avatkov says Turkey today runs its policy trying to spread its own ideology beyond its borders.

“Now Turkey is not the same as it was in the 20th century when it was under the Western system and was not trying to form its own policy, but in fact, it was the right hand of the US. But today, Turkey isn’t afraid of challenging Russia, as well as the US. One of the major features of the Turkish domestic policy is that it tries to form its own integration structure which includes various sectors such as educational, scientific, economic, cultural, and by these sectors it tries to strengthen its influence in the international platforms, in other words, it tries with the help of its organizations operating in different fields to create various integration groups”, Avatkov said.

Avatkov brought the Turkish council created in Nakhijevan in 2009 as an example of such an integration group.

“A great attention must be paid on this council since it will serve as the basis for the further expansion of the Turkish influence. Today Turkey is trying to present itself as an economic, educational center, however, Turkish pre-dominance aspirations stand behind it. Today’s Turkey is Erdogan’s Turkey which jails journalists for not following his ideology. It tries to have an impact on the global processes, however, it does not have sufficient human, as well as intellectual resources, and as a result it doesn’t become both economic and educational center, but rather it becomes a center of terrorism, emigration”, he said.

Avatkov said Turkey is trying to spread its instability in Europe, as well as in the South Caucasus.

“We witness that all the EU-Turkey agreements are the Turkish attempt to have an influence on the EU. And what Turkey can bring to the region is definitely instability and chaos”, Avatkov concluded.