'Islamist' Turkey- 'Orthodox' Russia divisions grow, Erdoğan declines Red Square invite. (Bugun).
President Erdoğan declines to attend the World War II commemoration at the Red Square, to only be represented by the Turkish Ambassador.
Experts read the development as a sign of growing divisions between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Vladimir Putin, since the Russian President referred to the deaths of Ottoman Armenians in 1915 during World War I as a "genocide" in April.
An outraged Erdoğan had slammed Vladimir Putin and French President Hollande over their visit to the Armenian capital Yerevan, and for attending the commemoration ceremonies marking the centennial of 1915. “We wish that Putin had not gone to Armenia, nor Mr. Hollande. I like to invite the countries who support the Armenian claims to first clean the dark stain in their history.”
Turkey’s exports to Russia have declined by 40 percent in the past year.
Experts fear that the planned “Turkish Stream,” which seeks to deliver Russian gas to to Europe over Turkey, might be delayed as a result of strained relations.
In March 2015 prior to the “genocide” statement from Putin, Gazprom and the Turkish state pipeline company (BOTAŞ) had agreed to a 10.25 percent discount on gas supplies.
The European Parliament, France, Germany, the Vatican, and Austria have received harsh criticism from Turkey over using the word “genocide." Hmmm.....The 'Sick man of Europe' has transformed in to the 'Angry man of Europe'.
No comments:
Post a Comment