The statement came from Davut Turan, head of the South Azerbaijan Social and Cultural Studies Center, political expert, from Ankara.

'These protests have encouraged the national movement just like events of May 2006. Azerbaijani Turks are seeking to retain their national values. The fact that they exist is already national value for them. Hence, such large protests. This confirms there is a spirit of national unity in South Azerbaijan. The problem of the Lake Urmia is not only a problem of Azerbaijan, but a problem for the entire Azerbaijan,' Turan said.

Noting that Iranian regime is cruel, the analyst attributed the tough way of people’s voicing protest to national power and national energy.

“People in South do not keep silent as they see keeping silent as treason. How hard Iranian regime tries to disperse the protests, it will not be able to stop that is happening. Iranian regime allegedly wants to supply water to the Lake from Araz River. But efforts to spread claims that Azerbaijan opposes this aims to instigate a trouble between South and North,” Turan added.

Gun.Az