German deputy speaker: NATO must stop Turkey support for ISIS

October 14, 2014 By administrator

Claudia Roth: ‘Germany must help the peace process to continue in Turkey.’

BERLIN, Germany – NATO must force Turkey to stop its undeclared support of the Islamic State (ISIS) and shift its policy toward the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the deputy speaker of the German parliament said.

Claudia Roth said in an interview with Rudaw that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government is pursuing a “murky” policy in Syria because it wants the Kurds weakened and their fighters “annihilated.”

“What we have learned is that Mr Erdogan wouldn’t mind if Kurds were weakened and then annihilated,” said Roth, deputy speaker of the Bundestag and a Green Party MP.

Erdogan’s “dealings with the ISIS are unacceptable. I could not believe that Turkey harbors an ISIS militant camp in Istanbul,” Roth said. “Turkey has also allowed weapons to be transported into Syria through its borders. Also that the ISIS has been able to sell its oil via Turkey is extraordinary,” she added.

Turkey categorically denies any dealings with ISIS. But there are many reported accounts of foreign jihadi fighters crossing from Turkey to Syria, wounded militants treated in Turkish hospitals and Ankara turning a blind eye to ISIS selling smuggled oil.

Turkey has invited criticism for its Syria policy. Ankara has remained idle while in Kobane Kurdish fighters of the PKK-affiliated People’s Protection Units (YPG) are making a last stand to keep ISIS from overrunning the Syrian town just across the border.

“I really don’t understand either why would Mr Erdogan and his ministers regard the PKK the same way they view the Islamic State,” Roth said. “Yes, it’s true the PKK does not have a democratic foundation, but it is no ISIS and one should not regard it as such,” she added.

“Germany must put pressure on Turkey to change course and reevaluate its policies. It should also ask NATO members to do the same. Germany must help the peace process to continue in Turkey.”

Regarding German help for Syrian Kurds, she said “Germany could have done so much more than just sending humanitarian help.”

She added that the world should also have helped the Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq, where the autonomous government has taken in some 1.6 million refugees from Syria and other parts of Iraq.

“Why has the international community not helped Kurdistan and the refugees the way it should have?” Roth questioned. She said she had seen refugees first hand in Kurdistan and the Turkish Syrian border of Suruc.

“It was devastating to see how an entire population is being eradicated before our eyes in Kobane,” she said.

“There is a refugee crisis even there where people have been sheltered in temporary places and on the streets. I want to underline that the international community must act very fast and aid the refugees. I have also asked the German government to increase its humanitarian help,” she added.

She said that the peace process between the PKK and the Turkish government, which has largely lagged since it was initiated in March 2012, would succeed only if Ankara changed its treatment of the outlawed PKK.

If Turkey continues to regard the PKK as a terrorist organization like ISIS it “will destroy this process and boost extremism among Kurds,” she warned. “In actual fact Kurds are victims of the rotten Turkish policies. No country should accept this.”

Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the PKK, said recently that the fall of Kobane could kill the Kurdish peace process in Turkey.

Roth blamed regional powers and selfish interests for Kurdish suffering. “Unfortunately some regional powers think only about their interests without thinking about the suffering of the Kurds,” she said. “There is no coordinated action or will against the ISIS in the region, for instance between Iran and Saudi Arabia. I hope the UN will put pressure on them to take a clearer stand.”

She made a call for ISIS to be “annihilated” and targeted economically as well as militarily.

“Lightly arming Kurds won’t solve the problem. There should be extensive and radical efforts,” she said, fearing that Kobane would fall to ISIS but calling on Kurds not to despair.

“They should know that they have many friends who support them in their battle against the Islamic State.”

German and Armenian military intensify their bilateral defense cooperation

September 11, 2014 By administrator

German and Armenian military officials reportedly agreed yesterday to intensify their bilateral defense cooperation as an important component to intensify relations of Armenia with NATO.

The Deputy Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan and other senior Armenian officials and a delegation of the German Federal Ministry of Defence would have considered this cooperation during two days of talks in Yerevan.

According to the Armenian Defense Ministry, they have developed a joint plan of German-Armenian activities for next year. “They have reached an agreement to maintain the momentum of development of cooperation in order to improve the level of interoperability,” the ministry said in a statement.

The statement said the military relations between the two countries through the support of Germany for defense reforms being implemented by Yerevan, the Armenian military training personnel and the participation of Armenia led mission NATO in Afghanistan.

Armenian soldiers serving under German command in Afghanistan in 2010, many of them have also undergone short courses in Germany prior to deployment.

“I want to emphasize the productive cooperation of Armenia with Germany, which is an excellent example of the interaction between the members and partners of NATO states,” said President Serzh Sarkisian in a speech during a NATO summit in Wales last week. Sargsyan said that Armenian troops had gained “invaluable experience” in Afghanistan.

Thursday, September 11, 2014,
Claire © armenews.com

Armenia Pans NATO for Pro-Azeri Statement

September 9, 2014 By administrator

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian (right) at a press conference with Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurtz in Yerevan. (Photolur)

YEREVAN—Armenia on Monday criticized NATO for again backing Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and not explicitly acknowledging the Karabakh Armenians’ right to self-determination.

Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said this stance contradicts the existing Karabakh peace proposals made by the United States and another key NATO member, France, together with Russia.

In an extensive declaration adopted at a summit held in Wales late last week, the leaders of the NATO member states said they “remain committed in their support to the territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova.” They said NATO will therefore continue to seek settlements of the conflicts in the South Caucasus and Moldova “based upon these principles and the norms of international law.”

Speaking at a joint news conference with Austria’s visiting Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, Nalbandian claimed that this “generalized” stance “does not correspond to the ideas, proposals and approaches” of the U.S., French and Russian co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. “Nor does it correspond to decisions that have been made in recent years within the OSCE framework,” he said.

“That certainly causes damage to the negotiation process and that certainly causes damage to stability and security in the region,” charged the chief Armenian diplomat.

President Serzh Sarkisian, who attended the Wales summit, likewise criticized the Karabakh-related language of the NATO declaration at the weekend. Sarkisian at the same time insisted that its adoption was a “very small success” for Azerbaijan. The latter has hailed the NATO stance.

Sarkisian boycotted the previous NATO summits because of virtually identical wordings of their concluding statements. His government wants the U.S.-led alliance to also cite the principle of people’s self-determination with regard to the Karabakh conflict.

Armenian officials argue that a combination of self-determination and territorial integrity is at the heart of the Basic Principles of a Karabakh settlement drafted by the U.S., Russia and France. The proposed framework accord reportedly allows for an eventual international recognition of Karabakh’s secession from Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani government meanwhile commended NATO for reaffirming its declared support for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

President Ilham Aliyev’s chief foreign policy aide, Novruz Mammadov, said late on Friday that “NATO’s position has not changed.” “Given that NATO is today the number one military-political organization, its support is very important,” the APA news agency quoted him as saying.

Armenian side dominant in relations with Azerbaijan

September 8, 2014 By administrator

The Armenian side continues dominant in Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, political scientist Hrant Melik Shahnazaryan told reporters on Monday.

Within the next two or three months Armenia will join the Customs Union.

The geopolitical situation is changing, and all the processes surrounding Russia seriously hinder the formation of the Customs Union.

Among the hindrances is the escalation of conflict in the South Caucasus.

“At the NATO summit, Armenian diplomacy succeeded in breaking NATO’s stereotypes – its approach to the principle of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity,” the expert said.

NATO Summit declaration neglects right to self-determination

September 6, 2014 By administrator

In an all-encompassing declaration adopted Friday, Sept 5, at a NATO summit in Wales, the North Atlantic Council, NATO’s principle decision-making body, made references to conflicts in the South Caucasus and Eastern Europe. The declaration, keeping in line with NATO verbiage since 2006, referred to territorial integrity while neglecting to mention the right to self-determination, Asbarez reported.

“Russia’s illegitimate occupation of Crimea and military intervention in eastern Ukraine have raised legitimate concerns among several of NATO’s other partners in Eastern Europe,” the Wales Summit Declaration reads.

“Allies will continue to support the right of partners to make independent and sovereign choices on foreign and security policy, free from external pressure and coercion. Allies also remain committed in their support to the territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova.”

“In this context, we will continue to support efforts towards a peaceful settlement of the conflicts in the South Caucasus, as well as in the Republic of Moldova, based upon these principles and the norms of international law, the UN Charter, and the Helsinki Final Act. The persistence of these protracted conflicts continues to be a matter of particular concern, undermining the opportunities for citizens in the region to reach their full potential as members of the Euro-Atlantic community. We urge all parties to engage constructively and with reinforced political will in peaceful conflict resolution, within the established negotiation frameworks,” the declaration says.

“We condemn in the strongest terms Russia’s escalating and illegal military intervention in Ukraine and demand that Russia stop and withdraw its forces from inside Ukraine and along the Ukrainian border. This violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is a serious breach of international law and a major challenge to Euro-Atlantic security,” it says.

Asbarez. NATO Upholds Territorial Integrity of Armenia, Azerbaijan

Wales Sarkisian Challenges NATO on Karabakh

September 4, 2014 By administrator

Turkey Preparing Pro-Azerbaijani Document at NATO Summit

NEWPORT, Wales—President Serzh Sarkisian challenged NATO on Thursday during remarks at the summit of world leaders saying either peace will prevail in Karabakh or the continued threats of war will mar security in the region, as Turkey vowed to protect Azerbaijan’s interests at the Summit.

Saying that the Armenian people have felt threats to security on their skins and know the value of regional stability, Sarkisian that there were two options as NATO is scheduled to adopt of document Friday “that will be related to the security of my people and peace in our region.”

“There are two options. Either it [the NATO Summit] will adopt the language of the OSCE Minsk Group, which is the only specialized international structure dealing with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict–language that was proposed and supported by the Co-Chair countries that are represented here by France and the United States of America–or upon the lobbying of another member state it will pass again with an aim to save the face of our tyrant neighbor vis-a-vis his own people. Believe me that option will not lead to any positive results,” said Sarkisian.

“Either common sense and the desire for peace will have the upper hand, or the silent encouragement of xenophobia will deepen the war rhetoric and deadly provocations so easily brandished by Azerbaijan, which does not care about its soldiers’ lives and becomes encouraged with such statements, will continue,” added Sarkisian.

Sarkisian’s comments on Karabakh were an apparent reference to promises made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev while visiting the latter in Baku on Wednesday. Sources indicate that Turkey is preparing a pro-Azebraijani document that it hopes will be supported by other NATO member-states.

Erdogan told Aliyev in Baku that Turkey will demand the fulfillment of promises given to Azerbaijan regarding the region at the NATO summit. Erdogan stated that the fulfillment of the so-called promises is not a favor but a right for Azerbaijan.

Erdogan said that he would not abandon Azerbaijan and will use its influence in the international community to advance Baku’s agenda and show its “determination on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue at the [NATO] summit.

“Let our brotherhood walk to the future by becoming strong,” said Erdogan in Baku adding that relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey is the “legacy of these countries ancestors.”

In his remarks Sarkisian also discussed Armenia’s role and effort in the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan and thanked Germany for its cooperation on that front.

Sarkisian outlined that Armenia has tripled the number of its troops in Afghanistan in July 2011.

“Over the past years Armenia has gained invaluable experience. I would specially emphasize Armenia’s effective cooperation with Germany, which is the best example of cooperation between NATO member and partner countries,” added Sarkisian.

Georgia will ask for NATO membership, says president

September 4, 2014 By administrator

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili says his country will ask for NATO membership at the alliance’s upcoming summit in Britain.

Margvelashvili said in a speech at the Chatham House think tank in London that “We will shoot for an invitation for NATO membership” but added that Tbilisi understood “[such] decisions are made in a much more complicated way.”

NATO said earlier this year it would not expand its membership at it summit in Wales, which begins on September 4.

But it said it will offer Georgia a “substantive package” of cooperation that would help it move closer to the alliance.

Rasmussen and Cameron greet Armenia president

September 4, 2014 By administrator

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and UK Prime Minister David Cameron greeted Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan ahead of the first meeting of NATO summit.

Serzh Sargsyan will participate in the meeting of the heads of state and government from NATO and ISAF partner nations that is about to start.

The Allied Heads of State and Government will meet with 27 partner countries including ISAF contributors, among them Armenia.

As reported earlier, Armenian president is expected to deliver a speech.

Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting the summits of NATO and the UN this week in Cardiff (Wales)?

September 3, 2014 By administrator

Armenian President Serge Sarkisian he will meet with his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev this week in Cardiff (Wales) on the sidelines of the summits of NATO and the UN? The press service of the President of the Republic in Yerevan we do not confirm or deny this information. The American diplomat James Worlik, co-chair of the Minsk Group of the OSCE recently said that this interview was possible. “The American Secretary of State John Kerry is ready to have a role in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh if participation would help the parties move forward,” said the American diplomat. The newspaper “Haygagan Jamanag” writes Serge Sargsyan agreed to meet Ilham Aliyev at the NATO summit in Cardiff.

Krikor Amirzayan

Russia warns NATO against military presence in Eastern Europe

September 2, 2014 By administrator

Russia views the prospect of a permanent NATO military presence in Eastern Europe as a major threat, according to a senior Kremlin official. The Western alliance has announced plans to beef up its defense strategy.

Two days ahead of NATO’s summit in Wales, Moscow has warned the Western military alliance against establishing a permanent presence near Russia’s borders, saying that it would view such a move as a threat.

“The fact that the military infrastructure of NATO member states is getting closer to our borders, including via enlargement, will preserve its place as one of the external threats for the Russian Federation,” Mikhail Popov, deputy director of Russia’s national security council, told the RIA Novosti news agency in an interview on Tuesday.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced plans on Monday to create a rapid reaction force of up to 5,000 troops and to pre-position military equipment and supplies in Eastern Europe.

In 1997, NATO and Russia signed an agreement in which the Western alliance agreed to not permanently station a substantial number of combat troops in Eastern Europe.

Concern in Baltic countries

The plan for a beefed up NATO presence is an attempt to allay growing insecurity among the Baltic states in particular, which have looked wearily at Russia’s intervention in eastern Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed the right to intervene on behalf of Russian speakers if Moscow believes their rights are under threat. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – all former Soviet republics that are now NATO members – have significant Russian minorities.

Before heading to the NATO summit, US President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit Estonia on Wednesday, where he is expected to emphasize Washington’s commitment to the security of the Baltic states.

NATO summit in Wales

The alliance’s 28 member states are set to hold their summit in Newport, Wales on Thursday and Friday. They are expected to adopt a more robust defense strategy as a direct response to Moscow’s intervention in eastern Ukraine. The alliance has released satellite photos which purport to show Russian troops conducting military operations on Ukrainian territory:

Meanwhile, peace talks in the Belarusian capital Minsk between pro-Russian separatists and the Ukrainian government concluded on Monday without any concrete progress. Talks are scheduled to continue on Friday.

Separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts have demanded a special status guaranteeing broad autonomy within Ukraine. On Sunday, Russian President Putin called for the Minsk talks to focus on the “statehood” of Ukraine’s eastern regions. The Kremlin subsequently denied advocating independence for the separatist areas.

Although Ukraine is not a NATO member, President Petro Poroshenko is set to attend the summit in Wales. Kyiv’s Western-backed government has publicly expressed its intention to join the alliance.

slk/jr (AFP, dpa, Reuters)