AIR Center Chairman speaks of NATO-Russia tensions

Russia's demand is against NATO, not Turkey," Farid Shafiyev, Chairman of the Board of the Center for Analysis of International Relations, said in an open discussion on the main points voiced by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in an interview with local media on January 12.

"The great powers divide certain zones. They knew that Russia's demands would not be accepted. I do not believe that NATO will expand in the near future. There are NATO members that do not want the situation to escalate. Turkey is an independent player, pursues an independent policy. Azerbaijan needs to expand relations with Turkey. Today is the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries," he said.