What do you think about the situation in Ukraine? There is an opinion that Great Britain and the United States are trying to disrupt the alliance between Russia and Germany, using the provocations around Ukraine. How much truth is there to it?
Not just Russia and Germany—China, too, and possibly Turkey. This is not an alliance but a system of economic and human relations. I wouldn’t limit it to Russia and Germany. Behind Russia there is China, who supports it and voted against the UN Security Council in the Ukrainian issue. It’s also worth mentioning that the Germany-China relations are relations between two Eurasian countries.
The Ukrainian crisis is a part of the Anglo-Saxon policies, as they want a war in the continental Europe to weaken all countries of the region. This is not a war between Russia and Ukraine, this is a war for domination in the economic and political future of the region. Peace in the region, particularly in Eurasia, is a painful and problematic issue.
Ukraine’s leadership is to an extent a hostage to circumstances. Perhaps, had they chosen neutrality, many issues would have been resolved. But its NATO-oriented course is dangerous for Russia, so Russia cannot allow it. This is why the crisis remains unresolved.
All the countries in the region seek deep economic cooperation and partnership. In the east, we have powerful China, who has achieved unprecedented might and strength. There is also economically strong Vietnam, already investing in various countries. That is, the focus of economic growth is shifting to the East. A single market being built in this space is an alternative to the US model that was built over the span of the entire 20th century.
President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently went to Kyiv on an official visit. Before that, Kyiv received Ilham Aliyev. What do you think about these visits?
Turkey has certain differences with Russia on certain regional tactical issues. Turkey is a very complicated country with a complicated economy, not an authoritarian state. Not everyone there is subordinated to Erdoğan, and there are different London-oriented political groups, as well as a vast number of EU-oriented entrepreneurs. Russia and Turkey have strong economic ties. One might say that Moscow and Ankara know how to negotiate any strategic issue.
It should be pointed out that Azerbaijan plays an important role here. Baku has close relations with Russia and even better relations with Turkey. Azerbaijan is a gateway from Central Asia to Europe. I have seen the great hub being built south of Baku. All this peaceful Eurasian space allows the countries of the continent make their own development plans. This creates problems for the Anglo-Saxons who control the seas and waters.
There is an opinion that Russia is trying to reconstruct the USSR 2.0 in one form or another. How feasible is this in today’s realities and will the Russian economy be able to cope with this project?
There can be no Soviet Union 2.0. This is an economic ideology with no political underpinnings. This is more about the control of transit routes and economic zones. All ideological formulas are nothing more than a metaphor. So, any new political formation is out of the question.
We are now witnessing the growth of China’s influence in the world. This influence also extends to post-Soviet countries, for example, the countries of Central Asia. How do you see the increasing role of China in this region?
China is the most powerful economy in Eurasia. There is no country comparable to China in power, scope, and capacity. One way or another, Beijing will draw to itself economic interests and lines alternative to those of the West. The Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s statement that the Chinese market is opening up to Central Asian countries means that these countries cannot ignore this chance. Because it creates an opportunity for economic growth even under an authoritarian regime. It is China’s going beyond its wall and opening up to world powers that represents the decline of the Western model.
Interview by Nijat Hajiyev
Translated from Minval.az
Aze.Media
