Weekend in Turkey

            This weekend could not be relaxing for Europe by all means: attempt of coup in Turkey, unclear tension in Yerevan, Armenia. Till Monday the leadership of getting less democratic states in the region has moved to President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It is not yet clear how exactly the EU-Turkey, Turkey-Russia relationship will evolve in these circumstances. Recently tension between Turkey and Russia has decreased: Russian tourists happily recommenced spending summer vacations in so familiar Turkish resorts. Would Putin cooperate better with Erdogan seeing in him the same spirit, only further events will reveal it.

Georgia: EU visa free movement dispute

Georgian state has fulfilled all requirements to obtain a visa-free movement for its citizens in the European Union. Delay in EU visa liberation for Georgia is a result of foreseeing approach to the process by Germany and France. Politicians of these countries would prefer to have a back up plan: fast return of visa regime if there is a rise of illegal actions caused by Georgians (or other nations granted visa-free movement) in EU. In media Georgian situation is presented along with Turkish, however, these cases are very different. Georgians just need a little bit of patience, meanwhile there is a long process of negotiations regarding requirements fulfilment with Turkey.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend

      Just as Russia pushes away its closest friends, threatening them by any means (that usually hurts Russians), Ukraine take an initiative for deeper co-operation with these states. Ukraine is going to increase the export of wheat,  corn and oil to Turkey in case of Russian sanctions against Turkey. The Ukrainian-Turkish meeting regarding agriculture will take place shortly.

      This is the continuation of the historical matrix of Ukraine: whenever Cossacks had a big threat, they found an ally among Turks, creating a union. And then they became a strong actors in the region. 

Tomatoes issue

    It seems like Russian government is more concerned, how to prevent Turkish tomatoes coming to the Russian market, than to bring the light to covered in darkness in winter time Crimea, annexed by Russia in March 2014.  On the 28^th of November President V. Putin approved sanctions against Turkey: it concerns food, flights between Russia and Turkey, however not manufactured products. From the 1^st of January the non-visa regime between two countries will be stopped. How fragile a friendship can be.

Russia refuses Turkish resorts but not the money for gas

    Current tension between Turkey and Russia over shot plane, violated Turkish air-space, grows everyday.  This was not only a warning signal to V. Putin - “do not mess up with Turkey”, it was a signal for the whole region. It seems like no one but Russians will pay for the boldness of Turkish government. Russia scares Turkey by the economical revenge, however it is knows that similar food embargo against the European Union impacted rise of the prices on the food products in Russia, not bringing much damage for the EU. While Russia considers how to punish rebellious „ex-friend”, Russians are restricted to take holidays in Turkey. Goodbye, Turkish food, resorts, small-medium business with Turkey! However, there was no word about cutting gas supply from Russia to Turkey. Well, Russian government won’t do anything that might hurt particular pockets.