Azerbaijan, Baku, 15 August / Trend corr. S.Ilhamgizi / Turkey's initiatives to regulate the conflict in Georgia are aimed to strengthen Ankara's position in Caucasus
"Turkey takes these steps to secure its strategically important projects," Sinan Ogan, Head of the Turksam International Relations and Strategic Research Centre, told Trend .
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyib Erdogan visited Moscow and Tbilisi to discuss the issues on peace settlement of the conflict in Georgia. Erdogan held talks with the Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, as well as Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili. Erdigan calls on the sides to come to peace and to create a platform 'Stability pact', which will unite Caucasian countries.
The conflict between South Ossetia and Georgia, as well as Russian's interference threaten the territorial integrity and stability in the country, the strategically significant projects, like Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum and Baku-Tbilisi-Kars. The possible danger over the projects forces Ankara to mediate between the conflict sides.
According to Turkish expert, official Ankara's initiatives are aimed to strengthen Turkey's role in the region.
"The conflict in Georgia has reduced Turkey's role in the region, while strengthening Russian's role," Ogan said.
Chairman of the Russian Islamic Committee Heydar Camal believes that Turkey targets to strengthen its authority and role in the region.
"Caucasus has always been the strategically important region for Turkey. Now, Ankara tries to strengthen its position in the region as quick as possible," Camal told Trend .
On 8 August, Turkey started military operations to restore its territorial integrity. Later, Russia attacked on Georgia. On 12 August, Russia and Georgia signed a ceasefire deal separately, submitted by the French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
During the short term conflict the Turkish President Abdullah Gul connected with Russian and Georgian Presidents and called on the sides to come to peace.
"Stability in the region and the efforts taken to unite Caucasian countries are aimed to oust the United States from the region," Camal said.