According to the Asbarez website, the Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, vowed to “end the occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia.” Sound like fighting words to you? They do to me.
More interesting than the article itself was the comment section. I guess as long as Russia/Armenia can maintain a military presence in the South Caucasus, there is a threat to the BTC pipeline. If they can build more pipelines, the Russian dominance of the European energy market can be broken. Hence, Russia is finished.
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Friday, August 16, 2013
Poetry
Another interesting development in the culture war between Azerbaijan and Iran today, Panorama revealed that the "5 manat banknote will bear the picture of a classic Iranian poet Nizami Ganjevi, who is considered an Azerbaijani poet in Azerbaijan."
Why is this important? Well, for this blogger, Azerbaijan seems to be claiming that ancestral Azerbaijanis who 'happened to live in Iran' were really Azerbaijanis all along. Iran is simply a foreign occupying power. A simple analogy might be to call Ritchie Valens a great 'Mexican' musician. However, this particular poet died over 800 years ago, and Azerbaijan is only 20 years old.
Iran's Deputy Minister of culture and Islamic orientation, Bakhman Dari, responded with the expected denunciation, claiming that a country with 'no culture' is forced to steal one from others.
It does seem to be a provocative move.
Why is this important? Well, for this blogger, Azerbaijan seems to be claiming that ancestral Azerbaijanis who 'happened to live in Iran' were really Azerbaijanis all along. Iran is simply a foreign occupying power. A simple analogy might be to call Ritchie Valens a great 'Mexican' musician. However, this particular poet died over 800 years ago, and Azerbaijan is only 20 years old.
Iran's Deputy Minister of culture and Islamic orientation, Bakhman Dari, responded with the expected denunciation, claiming that a country with 'no culture' is forced to steal one from others.
It does seem to be a provocative move.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
addenda
According to Armenpress, the Armenian army won't confirm that 5 Azeri soldiers were killed during the August 8 flare up.
Back at it
Dear Non-Existent Readers,
I'm back. This topic really deserves a full-time blogger. I'd rather read one, but since nobody else will step up to the plate, I'll do what I can.
August 6, according The Guardian, a 75 year old Georgian woman cut off internet access to 90% of Armenia while scavenging for scrap copper. Sure! Did she use a backhoe? Haha! There is nothing too ridiculous for the paid press to print. Georgia/NATO is showing Armenia who is the boss.
On the 5th anniversary of the Georgia Russia war (can you really call it a war?), gunfire was exchanged by the Armenians and Azerbaijanis. According to Azernews, the Armenians were the aggressors, and the Azeris 'gave due rebuff to the enemy.' On the same night, an Armenian soldier lost his way and was apprehended by the Azeri authorities.
On August 9, senior fellow at the Cato institute, Doug Bandow, penned a commentary deploring the idea of admitting Georgia into NATO. Does NATO really want to fight for South Ossetia and Abkhazia? I would think not, but then I don't stand to gain anything either.
August 14, the Armenian Panorama noted that in the first meeting between Iran's new president and the Azeri speaker of the parliament, the Azeri flag was missing. Strangely, the flag has been absent, upside down, or mis-colored at various international events. Are they getting ready for a new flag? New boundaries?
Putin was visiting with the President at the same time, and according to the Panorama, doused Aliyev's desire for NK with a "cold shower." Aliyev has always maintained that 'all options are on the table.' In other words, Putin told him to fuggedaboutit.
I'm back. This topic really deserves a full-time blogger. I'd rather read one, but since nobody else will step up to the plate, I'll do what I can.
August 6, according The Guardian, a 75 year old Georgian woman cut off internet access to 90% of Armenia while scavenging for scrap copper. Sure! Did she use a backhoe? Haha! There is nothing too ridiculous for the paid press to print. Georgia/NATO is showing Armenia who is the boss.
On the 5th anniversary of the Georgia Russia war (can you really call it a war?), gunfire was exchanged by the Armenians and Azerbaijanis. According to Azernews, the Armenians were the aggressors, and the Azeris 'gave due rebuff to the enemy.' On the same night, an Armenian soldier lost his way and was apprehended by the Azeri authorities.
On August 9, senior fellow at the Cato institute, Doug Bandow, penned a commentary deploring the idea of admitting Georgia into NATO. Does NATO really want to fight for South Ossetia and Abkhazia? I would think not, but then I don't stand to gain anything either.
August 14, the Armenian Panorama noted that in the first meeting between Iran's new president and the Azeri speaker of the parliament, the Azeri flag was missing. Strangely, the flag has been absent, upside down, or mis-colored at various international events. Are they getting ready for a new flag? New boundaries?
Putin was visiting with the President at the same time, and according to the Panorama, doused Aliyev's desire for NK with a "cold shower." Aliyev has always maintained that 'all options are on the table.' In other words, Putin told him to fuggedaboutit.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Mr. Merry speaks on Nagorno-Karabahk
Big time interview on the Voice of Armenia youtube channel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_enGmtbE-o
A Mr. E Wayne Merry, "Senior Fellow for Europe and Eurasia at the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington DC," was interviewed by the ARMVOA anchor. The AFPC's board of directors include Newt Gingrich, and Dov Zakheim. I'll let the reader draw his own conclusions.
Despite his self-righteousness, Mr. Merry was quite informative. He enlightened this blogger about the history of the Kazan negotiations and did a decent job of outlining the major players and the issues involved. However, he protested a little too much that the failure to arrive at a deal on N-K was in no way the fault of "Washington." I thought that choice of words was quite interesting. The ARMVOA anchor mentioned to possibility of the outbreak of war a couple of times hoping to get Mr. Merry to play his hand. Mr. Merry kept his cards rather close to his vest.
Highly recommended!
A Mr. E Wayne Merry, "Senior Fellow for Europe and Eurasia at the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington DC," was interviewed by the ARMVOA anchor. The AFPC's board of directors include Newt Gingrich, and Dov Zakheim. I'll let the reader draw his own conclusions.
Despite his self-righteousness, Mr. Merry was quite informative. He enlightened this blogger about the history of the Kazan negotiations and did a decent job of outlining the major players and the issues involved. However, he protested a little too much that the failure to arrive at a deal on N-K was in no way the fault of "Washington." I thought that choice of words was quite interesting. The ARMVOA anchor mentioned to possibility of the outbreak of war a couple of times hoping to get Mr. Merry to play his hand. Mr. Merry kept his cards rather close to his vest.
Highly recommended!
Monday, August 5, 2013
5 Year Anniversary
Thursday will mark the 5 year anniversary of the beginning of the Russia Georgian war. The war ended a few hours later with the Russian Army demolishing all of the expensive runways built for the eventual attack on Iran. Washington was peeved. Turkey wouldn't allow them access to the Black Sea, so Treasury Secretary Paulson went to China to beg for time. He got what he wanted, and nuclear war was averted....for a while, anyway.
Interesting interview with Medvedev here: http://rt.com/shows/worlds-apart-oksana-boyko/medvedev-south-ossetia-georgia-017/
Such a week really demands a book written by an insider, not speculation by a know-nothing like myself. Unfortunately, anyone on the inside who breaks the code of silence is ripped to shreds. Personally, I'm convinced most of the "whistle-blowers" are just pretending. The government wants to make an example out of some one before anyone actually spills any beans.
At any rate, 8/8/8 was not destined to go down as the spark for WW3. What will the date actually be? Would anyone out there care to guess? Right now, if I had to bet....I'd be thinking the last week in September, but no one ever went broke betting against me! LOL.
The Armenians and Azerbaijanis have traded cease fire violations again today.
Interesting interview with Medvedev here: http://rt.com/shows/worlds-apart-oksana-boyko/medvedev-south-ossetia-georgia-017/
Such a week really demands a book written by an insider, not speculation by a know-nothing like myself. Unfortunately, anyone on the inside who breaks the code of silence is ripped to shreds. Personally, I'm convinced most of the "whistle-blowers" are just pretending. The government wants to make an example out of some one before anyone actually spills any beans.
At any rate, 8/8/8 was not destined to go down as the spark for WW3. What will the date actually be? Would anyone out there care to guess? Right now, if I had to bet....I'd be thinking the last week in September, but no one ever went broke betting against me! LOL.
The Armenians and Azerbaijanis have traded cease fire violations again today.
Friday, August 2, 2013
August in the Caucusas
I'm trying hard to get the Caucasus region in focus. What is going on there? Who are the players? What is at stake?
Today, I was confronted by another round of finger pointing by the Azeris against the Armenians. Specifically, the Armenians were violating the ceasefire. It's an old story, one we've all heard before, and we'll probably hear again.
According to the Asbarez online journal, "Russia Tightens Grip as Armenia Moves Closer to Europe." This independence of Armenia has brought the great "displeasure of Russia." Asbarez describes itself as the "the official publication of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western United States Central Committee." Russia increased the price of gas to Armenia by 50% during the month of July, and some hapless Armenian truck driver was reportedly dressed in women's clothes to be vilified before an angry Moscow audience after massacring 18 locals in a negligent vehicle accident. Boohoo?
The Russians have further undermined Armenia by granting citizenship to anyone (or their descendants) who held Soviet citizenship. It is feared that this will draw Armenians out of Armenia and make it demographic deficit with Azerbaijan even worse. Furthermore, Russia really wants Armenia to be "poor and intimidated", so it can keep a military base on the Turkish border.
Interesting. Armenia seems to have only two friends in the world: Russia and Iran. Unfortunately, these countries can't offer them the prosperous future that should be Armenia's. This can only come from the West, which can't seem to keep its own head above water and already has a long history with Turkey and has chosen Azerbaijan's side in the NK dispute in no uncertain terms.
It would seem to this blogger that Armenia will have to hand over NK and depend on the generosity of strangers, and maybe they will get a pipeline through their country after Iran is reduced to rubble. Of course, Turkey and Azerbaijan might be happier if there were no Armenia at all. After all, there is only 3 million left, and they have been an eternal headache for the Turks. Is Russia really that bad?
Ho hum. It's back to work for me.
Today, I was confronted by another round of finger pointing by the Azeris against the Armenians. Specifically, the Armenians were violating the ceasefire. It's an old story, one we've all heard before, and we'll probably hear again.
According to the Asbarez online journal, "Russia Tightens Grip as Armenia Moves Closer to Europe." This independence of Armenia has brought the great "displeasure of Russia." Asbarez describes itself as the "the official publication of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western United States Central Committee." Russia increased the price of gas to Armenia by 50% during the month of July, and some hapless Armenian truck driver was reportedly dressed in women's clothes to be vilified before an angry Moscow audience after massacring 18 locals in a negligent vehicle accident. Boohoo?
The Russians have further undermined Armenia by granting citizenship to anyone (or their descendants) who held Soviet citizenship. It is feared that this will draw Armenians out of Armenia and make it demographic deficit with Azerbaijan even worse. Furthermore, Russia really wants Armenia to be "poor and intimidated", so it can keep a military base on the Turkish border.
Interesting. Armenia seems to have only two friends in the world: Russia and Iran. Unfortunately, these countries can't offer them the prosperous future that should be Armenia's. This can only come from the West, which can't seem to keep its own head above water and already has a long history with Turkey and has chosen Azerbaijan's side in the NK dispute in no uncertain terms.
It would seem to this blogger that Armenia will have to hand over NK and depend on the generosity of strangers, and maybe they will get a pipeline through their country after Iran is reduced to rubble. Of course, Turkey and Azerbaijan might be happier if there were no Armenia at all. After all, there is only 3 million left, and they have been an eternal headache for the Turks. Is Russia really that bad?
Ho hum. It's back to work for me.
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