AL-Monitor By Cengiz Candar Jan. 12, 2022 [The unrest rattling Kazakhstan has reflected the irrelevance of Turkey and the Organization of Turkic States chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.] Turkey has faced a stark beginning to 2022. Its foreign policy, which appeared to be triumphant and very effective in 2021, is suffering a rough start to the new year amid a currency meltdown and skyrocketing inflation at home. The unprecedented and violent protests that erupted in Kazakhstan on Jan. 2 betrayed Turkey’s assertive foreign policy flaws perhaps more vividly than any other incident over the past three years. Oddly, the protests have hardly received the attention it deserves in Turkey because of the country’s highly consuming domestic political and financial situation. In 2020, Turkey’s military and political role in Libya changed the course of the war in favor of the Tripoli-based forces in the country’s civil war. Turkey challenged France, Greece and the European Union during a standoff over conflicting territorial claims in the Eastern Mediterranean. In the fall of 2020, Turkey’s military, political and diplomatic support for Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh war changed the balance of power dramatically in favor of Baku. Thus, with boosted Trans-Caspian ambitions extending to Turkic Central Asia via Azerbaijan, Turkey entered 2021 as a new revisionist power, albeit not on the same par with Russia and China. Turkey has aimed to utilize the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking states to realize its ambitions in Central Asia. The brainchild of Kazakhstan’s former leader, Nursultan Nazarbayev, the council was planned in 2006 and launched in 2009. In accordance with its new political grandstanding, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan became the new chairman of the body in 2021 during a summit held in Istanbul on Nov. 12. Erdogan’s staunch ally, the leader of Turkey’s arch-nationalist party, Devlet Bahceli, presented him a giant map of the Turkic world as a gift, encompassing big chunks of the Russian Federation, raising eyebrows in Moscow and irritating neighboring Beijing, which is busy with suppressing its Turkic minority, the Uyghurs. Nevertheless, it took only two months for the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) to prove its impotence, manifesting Turkey’s irrelevance. On Jan. 2, Kazakhstan imploded. And Kazakhstan's security establishment hasn’t knocked on the doors of the Turkic Council but instead on the doors of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) to maintain its survival in the face of the rattling violence in its commercial capital, Almaty. The CSTO, which was founded in 1992 and is led by Russia, includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Belarus and Armenia. In a nutshell, the Kazakh leadership — at a time of urgent security needs — preferred Russia over Turkey and Vladimir Putin over Erdogan. Kazakhstan has special bonds with Turkey. The two countries as well as Azerbaijan have been the main pillars of the OTS. Kazakhstan had entered into a military cooperation agreement with Turkey that encompasses cooperation in several fields including the defense industry, intelligence-sharing, joint military exercises, information systems and cyber defense. The growing military ties between Turkey and Kazakhstan as well as Uzbekistan had given rise to a fanciful idea in October 2020 to establish a Turkic NATO. Against such a backdrop, Kazakhstan’s choice to invite the CSTO instead of the OTS has a highly symbolic significance. The choice has also indicated that — unlike Azerbaijan's Ilham Aliyev who did just the opposite almost a year ago during the war with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh — the Kazakh regime has been favoring Russia over Turkey at the expense of any prestige the OTS may have. More striking than anything else and perhaps adding further insult to injury to Turkish nationalists was the deployment of Armenian soldiers and Russian special forces units to Kazakhstan upon the request of the Kazakh president. The announcement of the deployment came from Armenian President Nikol Pashinyan — a striking irony displaying the degradation of Turkey's foreign policy. What’s more intriguing is the anti-US and anti-Western obsession of certain secularist-nationalists and leftists in Turkey. For example, reacting to the unfolding developments in Kazakhstan, prominent retired Turkish Adm. Cem Gurdeniz blamed the unrest on “an imperialist plot.” Gurdeniz, who is also an ideologue of the controversial Blue Homeland doctrine that advocates more aggressive policy in the Mediterranean, claimed that the unrest stemmed from a “Soros-type provocation” that aimed to harbor “turmoil in Eurasia” and was organized by “imperialists very irritated from the foundation of the Organization of Turkic States.” In social media, many Turkish leftists viewed similar opinions. Pro-Erdogan circles, in turn, citing a former Russian parliamentarian, claimed that followers of Fethullah Gulen, a US-based cleric who is accused by Turkey of staging a coup attempt in 2016, might be those fomenting trouble in Kazakhstan. Erdogan was quick to support his Kazakh counterpart, Kassym Jomart Tokayev — the hand-picked successor of Nazarbayev. He rapidly expressed his support for Tokayev. However, Erdogan’s support of Tokayev was noticeably low-key. He did not pick up the issue much. Perhaps he was embarrassed by Tokayev’s choice of inviting CSTO troops, thereby undermining his prestige. Erdogan’s low-key support might be also linked to the uncertainty around Nazarbayev. In an opinion piece in the Financial Times, Gideon Rachman wrote, “Kazakhstan is a country in which the average income is around $570 a month, but where the family of Nursultan Nazarbayev, who ruled the country from 1991 until 2019, has acquired foreign properties worth at least $785 million. The turmoil in Kazakhstan may be linked to infighting within ruling circles. But these kinds of problems are inherent to corrupt autocracies. If wealth is divided up as part of a spoils system, any hint of a change in leadership creates instability.” On Jan. 5, Tokayev sacked and arrested long-time Nazarbayev loyalist Karim Massimov, head of Kazakhstan's intelligence. He also dismissed Nazarbayev from his position as head of the National Security Council and appointed himself as the new head. Turkey seems to have lost track of the developments in Kazakhstan. Almost two weeks after the unrest, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu gathered a conference of the foreign ministers of the OTS. In a speech on Jan. 11, he expressed satisfaction that the situation in Kazakhstan was brought under control, without mentioning that the shaky control was maintained by a Russian-led military intervention. "Kazakhstan has a state tradition, experience and ability to overcome the current crisis," Cavusoglu said. Putin, for his part, was opaque in praising the role the military troops played in suppressing anti-government protests in Kazakhstan. "We won't let anyone destabilize the situation in our home," the Russian president said. His remarks were a reflection of the irrelevance of Turkey and the OTS led by Erdogan at a critical juncture of the Turkic world. It also is a stark indicator of the changed fortunes of Turkey in its assertive foreign policy. The Kazakhstan crisis represents a defeat of Turkish nationalism on foreign policy.
Author: Hagop Kamalian
Turkish press: Turkish, Armenian officials to meet in Moscow amid normalization (January 14)
The Dilucu border gate between Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan province and Turkey, in Iğdır, Turkey, May 21, 2017. (Shutterstock, File)
“The first meeting between the special representatives of Turkey and Armenia will be held in Moscow on Jan. 14, 2022,” a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed late Wednesday.
Previously, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu had announced the upcoming meeting.
Noting that the two sides have appointed special representatives, the top diplomat said Ankara wants to have direct contact with Yerevan before the official meeting.
“A road map outlining which steps need to be taken to normalize relations needs to be determined by getting in direct contact, including bilateral visits,” Çavuşoğlu said.
Çavuşoğlu underlined that Turkey is coordinating with Azerbaijan regarding steps to be taken with Armenia and said: “I hope Armenia continues on this line. Armenia’s messages are positive, but we want to see actions. We can take trilateral steps.”
“Both Azerbaijan and Turkey may open their borders with Armenia if we reach the point we want,” he added, saying that such a decision would be made in cooperation with Baku.
Following years of frozen ties, the neighboring countries of Turkey and Armenia have announced they seek to normalize relations amid efforts for regional integration and cooperation in the South Caucasus.
Representatives from both countries said that steps toward normalization are being taken and that charter flights between the two countries would soon resume, as Armenia said that it would lift an embargo on Turkish goods from January.
On Dec. 15, Turkey appointed Serdar Kılıç, a former ambassador to the United States, as its special envoy to discuss steps for normalization with Armenia. Three days later, Armenia appointed its special representative for dialogue with Turkey, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Ruben Rubinyan.
The borders between the two countries have been closed for decades and diplomatic relations have been on hold.
Armenia and Turkey signed a landmark peace accord in 2009 to restore ties and open their shared border after decades, but the deal was never ratified and ties have remained tense.
Relations between Armenia and Turkey have historically been complicated. Turkey's position on the events of 1915 is that Armenians lost their lives in eastern Anatolia after some sided with the invading Russians and revolted against Ottoman forces. The subsequent relocation of Armenians resulted in heavy casualties, as massacres carried out by militaries and militia groups from both sides increased the death toll.
Turkey objects to the characterization of the incidents as "genocide" but describes the 1915 events as a tragedy in which both sides suffered casualties.
Ankara has repeatedly proposed the creation of a joint commission consisting of historians from Turkey and Armenia and international experts to tackle the issue, but Armenia refuses to open its archives.
During the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Ankara supported Baku and accused Yerevan of occupying Azerbaijan’s territories.
Armenian peacekeepers depart for Kazakhstan
16:34, 7 January, 2022
YEREVAN, JANUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. Russian military planes are transporting Armenian peacekeepers to Kazakhstan from Yerevan’s Zvartnots International Airport, the Russian defense ministry reports.
“The transportation of servicemen of the Armenian Armed Forces to Kazakhstan is being carried out by the Russian Il-76 military aircrafts. Three Il-76 planes have already departed from the Zvartnots airport to Kazakhstan”, the Russian defense ministry’s statement says.
Earlier today the Armenian defense ministry reported that 100 Armenian peacekeepers will be sent to Kazakhstan as part of the CSTO peacekeeping mission. The peacekeepers will protect strategic facilities in Kazakhstan.
Azerbaijani Press: Tens of Thousands of Armenian Weapons & Ammunition Found in Liberated Azerbaijani Lands in 2021
Caspian News, Azerbaijan
Jan 6 2022
By Mushvig Mehdiyev January 6, 2022
The militarization of the once occupied Azerbaijani lands by Armenia has once again been proven with tens of thousands of guns, ammunition, and explosives being found in those territories post-liberation during 2021.
The Internal Affairs Ministry of Azerbaijan revealed this week the number of military firearms and equipment collected in the positions and strong points abandoned by the Armenian forces in the liberated lands. The findings include a total of 225 assault rifles, 102 grenade launchers, 68 machine guns, 64 anti-tank and anti-personnel guided missile systems, 10 mortar installations, 8 air defense systems, 721 grenades, 129 mines, and tens of thousands of shells and cartridges of various calibers.
The large number of abandoned weapons and ammunition in the territories kept under illegal occupation by Armenia for nearly three decades testifies to the heavy militarization of those lands despite UN Security Council resolutions calling for immediate withdrawal of the occupant forces.
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan began with Yerevan’s illegal claims for the internationally recognized and historical lands of Azerbaijan. The conflict intensified following the Soviet Union’s dissolution in 1991 when Armenia launched a full-fledged military campaign against Azerbaijan. The hostilities, known as the First Karabakh War, lasted until a ceasefire was reached in 1994. Armenia occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized territories, namely the Karabakh (Garabagh) region. Over 30,000 ethnic Azerbaijanis were killed and one million others were expelled from their lands in a brutal ethnic cleansing policy conducted by Armenia.
The Azerbaijani army restored Azerbaijan’s sovereignty over the occupied lands in the 44-day-long counter-offensive operations from September 27 through November 9, 2020. Azerbaijani forces liberated more than 300 settlements, including the cities of Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Zangilan, Gubadli and Shusha from nearly a 30-year-long illegal Armenian occupation. Armenia also returned the occupied Aghdam, Kalbajar, and Lachin districts to Azerbaijan as part of its obligations it took under the tripartite agreement signed on November 10, 2020, by Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia.
The post-war military findings in the liberated lands, including a military fortification in the Aghdam district, showed that so-called peace aspirations of Armenia were completely false. The two-story bunker that was built at 415 meters above sea level in Aghdam was used by Armenian forces as a command post over the years of occupation and during active warfare in 2020. The fortification was found to be equipped heavily with weaponry and ammunition, as well as modern navigation and observation devices, including visual and thermal cameras. The metal installment was reportedly able to accommodate up to 100 army personnel in multiple rooms and was designed to stand against long-term ground and aerial attacks.
The fortification in Aghdam was part of the so-called “Ohanyan line” – a complex system of military facilities established in 1994–2020 with the personal participation of Armenia’s former defense minister Seyran Ohanyan. The militarized corridor, which comprised complex military trenches, long and short-range firing positions, anti-tank trenches, wire fences, mixed minefields (both anti-personnel and anti-tank), and command posts, measured nearly 200 kilometers in length along the former line of contact between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces.
Azerbaijani forces broke the “Ohanyan line” completely during the 44-day counter-attack operations. The fall of the heavily militarized fortifications along the frontline was said to have a crucial impact on the retreat of the occupant Armenian forces.
Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Public Radio of Armenia
Jan 6 2022
On January 6, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the commemoration of the Birth and Baptism of Jesus Christ. God was incarnated and appeared to the people. During the Baptism of Jesus God the Father said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Mt 3:17) and the Holy Spirit descended on Christ in the form of dove, so God appeared to the people for the second time. So, both Theophanies revealed by means of the Birth and Baptism of Jesus Christ are celebrated in the Armenian Church jointly on January 6. The feast starts on the eve, in the evening of January 5, and is continued after the midnight. On the eve a solemn Candlelight Divine Liturgy is celebrated and on January 6 a solemn Divine Liturgy is celebrated. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy Blessing of the Waters Service is conducted symbolizing the Baptism of Christ in the River Jordan at the commencement of His ministry. By means of His Baptism Jesus blessed water.
Celebrant priest pours out the Holy Chrism drop by drop into water and blesses the water. According to the tradition people take some blessed water with them to use it as a medicinal remedy for the sick. After Blessing of the Waters Service the priests visit the houses of the faithful to proclaim the Christmastide Good News of the Birth of Jesus Christ and hence the tradition of Blessing of the Houses was formed.
The Birth of Jesus happened in this way. “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. … And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Lk 2:1-7) The Son of God was born in poverty, in a manger. The witnesses of His Birth were the shepherds living out in the fields nearby, whom the angels had appeared and brought the good news of the Birth of the Savior singing: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Lk 2:18)
Soon afterwards some men who studied the stars came from the East and worshipped Baby Christ, presented him gifts and returned to their countries.
Source: Qahana.am
Sharmazanov: By sending troops to Kazakhstan, Pashinyan admits that Armenian authorities were right on March 1
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 6 2022
Former deputy speaker of the Armenian parliament and member of the Republican Party of Armenia Eduard Sharmazanov commented on Nikol Pashinyan’s decision to send peacekeeping forces to unrest-hit Kazakhstan.
"It’s utterly ridiculous that the man who grabbed power in Armenia through street protests in 2018 stands against his Kazakh "revolutionary brothers”. The “prime minister”, who has discredited the CSTO more than anyone else, has become a defender of the CSTO Charter,” he wrote on Facebook on Thursday.
“Since you know how to write a "letter" to the CSTO, why didn't you do it on November 16, 2020, when the enemy launched an attack?
“By sending troops to Kazakhstan, Pashinyan admits that the authorities were right on March 1, 2008, and he is a criminal. "Sovereign" prime minister… "proud revolutionaries", enjoy!” Sharmazanov said.
Armenia allows its airline to operate charter flights from Yerevan to Istanbul
TASS, Russia
Dec 31 2021
Despite the common border, Armenia and Turkey do not have diplomatic relations
YEREVAN, December 30. /TASS/. The civil aviation authorities of Armenia have given permission to the Flyone Armenia airline to operate charter flights on the route Yerevan-Istanbul-Yerevan, Chairman of the company’s board Aram Ananyan told TASS.
"Several days ago, Flyone Armenia applied to the aviation authorities of Armenia and Turkey for permission to operate charter flights on the Yerevan – Istanbul – Yerevan route. We thank the Armenian aviation authorities for their positive response," he said, adding that the company is now awaiting permission from the Turkish side.
On December 16, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Ankara is considering applications of Turkish and Armenian airlines to operate flights on the Istanbul-Yerevan-Istanbul route.
Despite the common border, Armenia and Turkey do not have diplomatic relations. In 2009, in Zurich, the foreign ministers of the two states signed protocols on the establishment of diplomatic relations and on the principles of relations, but these documents were not ratified. On March 1, 2018, Yerevan announced the cancellation of the protocols.
Earlier, Ankara and Yerevan announced the appointment of special representatives for the normalization of bilateral relations.
Turkish press: Turkey aims for stability, peace in South Caucasus: FM Çavuşoğlu
An Azerbaijani national flag flies next to the 13th century Khodaafarin Arch Bridge connecting the northern and southern banks of the Aras River located at the border of Azerbaijan and Iran, Jabrayil, Azerbaijan, Dec. 15, 2020. (Getty Images)
Turkey aims to cultivate stability and peace in the South Caucasus, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said Monday.
Speaking at a joint news conference with his Malaysian counterpart Saifuddin Abdullah in the capital Ankara, Çavuşoğu touched upon the recent normalization efforts with Armenia.
Underlining the importance of cooperation in the region, he highlighted the significance of joint projects that connect the countries and contribute to their economies.
"Our desire is the development of stability and peace in the South Caucasus, also the realization of projects that contribute to the economy that connects countries, just like the Zangezur corridor," he said.
Once part of Azerbaijan's territory, Zangezur was later assigned by the Soviet Union to the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic in the 1920s. It is now set to be the site of a new passageway between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan in the wake of last year's conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Azerbaijan has plans for many projects in the Zangezur corridor, including motorways and rail lines.
Reiterating that a special representative will be appointed and that the move was reciprocated by Yerevan, Çavuşoğlu also noted that airlines' requests to operate flights will be answered.
Turkey and Armenia recently decided to appoint special envoys to discuss steps to normalize ties.
The international community, including the United States, has welcomed the initiative taken by Turkey and Armenia to mend long-broken relations.
The borders between the two countries have been closed for decades and diplomatic relations have been on hold.
Armenia and Turkey signed a landmark peace accord in 2009 to restore ties and open their shared border after decades, but the deal was never ratified and ties have remained tense.
Relations between Armenia and Turkey have historically been complicated. Turkey's position on the events of 1915 is that Armenians lost their lives in eastern Anatolia after some sided with the invading Russians and revolted against the Ottoman forces. The subsequent relocation of Armenians resulted in numerous casualties, with massacres by militaries and militia groups from both sides increasing the death toll.
Turkey objects to the presentation of the incidents as "genocide" but describes the 1915 events as a tragedy in which both sides suffered casualties.
Ankara has repeatedly proposed the creation of a joint commission made up of historians from Turkey and Armenia and international experts to tackle the issue.
The relationship deteriorated more recently after Turkey supported Azerbaijan, which fought a brief war with Yerevan last year for control of the Armenian-occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region. However, countries in the region have recently been signaling a desire for further cooperation in the South Caucasus.
Ankara has made frequent calls for a six-nation platform comprising of Turkey, Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia for permanent peace, stability and cooperation in the region, saying it would be a win-win initiative for all regional actors in the Caucasus.
Turkey believes that permanent peace is possible through mutual security-based cooperation among the states and people of the South Caucasus region.
Analyst clarifies what will disturb Turkey and Azerbaijan from opening so-called corridor via Armenia
News.am, Armenia
Dec 24 2021
19:01, 24.12.2021
Turkey and Azerbaijan are trying to advance the idea of a corridor, but the regional and non-regional players have other notions that are different from the notions of Ankara and Baku. This is what political analyst Argishti Kiviryan told reporters today and recalled that the statement signed on November 9, 2020 concerns the road with a special status that will be under the control of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, not what Baku says or wants.
Even if Armenia is imposed to implement this provision of the statement, according to Kiviryan, it won’t mean that it is within the logic of the desires of Ankara and Baku.
“For instance, Iran doesn’t accept this. The same thing that disturbed Turkey and Azerbaijan from seizing Stepanakert will also disturb them now. Proceeding from the counterbalances and the established rules of the game, Baku still isn’t trying to solve the problem militarily since this will mean declaring a war against Moscow,” Kiviryan emphasized, adding that Armenia is located in a region in which the enemy will always exert pressure and that the only way is to create a combat-ready army.
According to Kiviryan, the November 9 statement also stated the need for exchange of captives, and Moscow seeks to meet this objective step-by-step. “The mistake of the Armenian authorities was that they shouldn’t have implemented the other provisions so long as Baku hadn’t returned all the captives. What Armenia has now is a result of the absence of skillful diplomacy,” he concluded.
Turkey, Armenia to appoint envoys in bid to normalize ties
Arab News
Dec 14 2021
Dec 14 2021
ANKARA: Turkey and Armenia will appoint special representatives to discuss steps to normalize their ties, Turkey’s foreign minister said.
Speaking in parliament during a debate over his ministry’s budget late Monday, Mevlut Cavusoglu also said charter flights between Istanbul and Yerevan would restart soon.
“We have consulted with Azerbaijan. Soon, we will mutually appoint special representatives with Armenia for the steps toward normalization and we will act together with Azerbaijan at every step,” Cavusoglu told parliament.