Russian-Turkish rapprochement will not affect the Armenian-Russian relations, director of the Russian Institute of Strategic Studies (RISS) Leonid Reshetnikov said.
"I can say with an absolute confidence that a development of Russian-Turkish economic and political cooperation will not and can not be reached at an expense of interests of our allies," Reshetnikov said.
"Russia ha one ally on the Caucasus which is Armenia," he continued.
Reshetnikov said that Turkey is a very important economical partner and a big and developing country, and it is beneficial for Russia to develop and strengthen economic and political ties with it.
However, he said that Russia stays firm on issues concerning its traditional partner, Armenia. He added that in relationships with Russia Turkey never raises issues on Armenia.
A long-standing dispute over Nagorny Karabakh, a breakaway region inside Azerbaijan with a predominantly ethnic Armenian population, has been a sticking point in relations between the two South Caucasus states.
The Armenian-Turkish border was closed in 1993 on Ankara's initiative. Bilateral relations between the countries are complicated by Turkey's support of Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia over Nagorny Karabakh and differing positions on the killings of ethnic Armenians in the Ottoman Empire during World War One.
Reshetnikov arrived in the Armenian capital of Yerevan to participate in a round table on the Armenian-Russian cooperation and regional problems.
The discussions are organized by ruling Armenian Republican Party and the RISS.
YEREVAN, June 5 (RIA Novosti)
