John Dyer, VICE News: The Bad Blood Between Russia and Turkey Is Spreading to Armenia and Azerbaijan
Escalating tensions between Russia and Turkey have spread to the Caucasus, a volatile region where both powers have long contested each other's influence.
After Turkish jets shot down a Russian warplane that allegedly flew into Turkish airspace last week, a Cold War-style war of words erupted between Ankara and Moscow. Turkey has refused to apologize for the incident, while Russia has blocked sales of tourism packages to Turkey, imposed sanctions on Turkish fruits and vegetables, and accused Turkey of buying oil from the Islamic State.
Now the two sides are squaring off over the ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, two tiny former Soviet republics that have been at loggerheads since a six-year war over an ethnic Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan called Nagorno-Karabakh ended in 1994.
Update: Turkey-Russia Conflict Divides South Caucasus (Giorgi Lomsadze, Eurasianet.org)
WNU Editor: The Ottoman - Tsarist wars gripped this region for centuries (17th to the 20th century) .... the possibility that these same conflicts may return with a vengeance is disturbing in every-way. And while I am confident that this will not happen .... the history in the region should give everyone pause.
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