Category: 2021

Turkey intelligence took part in 2020 war against Karabakh, says Turkish vice president

Antranik Varosian
News.am, Armenia
Dec 4 2021
15:24, 04.12.2021

The Turkish vice president has admitted that his country’s intelligence service took part in the war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) last fall.

According to the Haberler news agency, during the discussion of the budget for the defense of Turkey, Fuat Oktay said that the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) has been active in terms of Turkey’s interests and in balance of power in the region in Libya, Karabakh, and Afghanistan.

Identity of Azerbaijani who killed Artsakh resident is known

George Mamian
News.am, Armenia
Dec 4 2021
15:49, 04.12.2021

Within the framework of cooperation with the prosecutors of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and of the Russian peacekeeping forces in Artsakh, it was found out that the murder of Artsakh citizen Seyran Sargsyan was committed by Azerbaijani citizen and soldier, Private David Rahimzade. This is noted in a statement issued by the Artsakh Prosecutor’s Office.

A criminal case was launched at the Artsakh Police in connection with this case, and it was transferred by the Prosecutor’s Office to the Artsakh Investigative Committee for investigation.

The Russian peacekeepers are currently negotiating to hand over Seyran Sargsyan’s body to the Artsakh side.

As per the aforesaid statement, The Azerbaijani side once again distorted the circumstances of this criminal case and presented this premeditated murder as a stopping of the attack by an Artsakh citizen on their military position.

But the Artsakh side has evidence, including a full video documenting the actions of a group of Azerbaijani servicemen forcibly and violently abducting the aforementioned Artsakh national from a neutral zone, and moving him to an Azerbaijani military base by holding him by the legs and arms.

The video and other evidence will soon be provided to the Russian side, too, to form an accurate and complete picture of the real circumstances of this incident.

Artsakh National Security Service on Friday issued a statement that the Azerbaijani military had entered the neutral zone near the town of Chartar in the Martuni region of Artsakh, and used violence against Seyran Sargsyan (born in 1956), a resident of this town and a cattle breeder. Then he was taken to an Azerbaijani base, where he was killed.

Amid Tensions With Turkey, China Is Putting the Kurdish Issue in Play

George Mamian 
The Diplomat
By Nurettin Akcay
[Responding to Turkey’s stepped up rhetoric on Uyghurs, Beijing is
taking aim at an ethnic issue sensitive to Ankara.]
China-Turkey relations have been full of ups and downs since 1971. In
addition to some structural problems related to trade, the Uyghur
issue seems to be the most insurmountable issue driving a wedge
between China and Turkey.
The Uyghur issue has triggered political tensions between the two
countries many times. There is a large Uyghur diaspora population
residing in Turkey, and Turkic nationalist sentiments extend to the
Uyghur ethnic group. China, meanwhile, is extremely sensitive to any
hint of separatist sentiment stemming from the Uyghurs, including
appeals to transnational ethnic identity.
China-Turkey relations came to a halt between 1990 and 2000 following
the anti-Chinese activities of the Uyghurs in the 1980s. Bilateral
relations gained momentum when the AK Party came to power, but ties
were seriously weakened again with the Urumqi riots that broke out in
2009. Turkey reacted very harshly to the ensuing crackdown, with Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan describing the events as genocide. As
Chinese authorities were displeased with Erdogan’s rhetoric, they cut
off relations with Turkey.
However, China-Turkey relations began to blossom again soon after
that. Despite some setbacks, the years 2010-2018 can be called the
golden years of the relationship. The 2016 coup attempt and U.S.
support of Kurdish militias in Syria, the YPG, pushed Turkey into
Russia and China’s orbit. While Turkey drew closer to the China-Russia
front during this period, Ankara’s relations with China saw perhaps
the best period in history. The countries exchanged high-level
diplomatic visits and signed economic, cultural, and educational
agreements. By 2018, the number of Chinese companies operating in
Turkey exceeded 1,000.
Furthermore, Turkey is a strategic partner of China in the
implementation of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Ankara has
expressed its support for the project on every platform. In May 2017,
President Erdogan attended the Belt and Road Forum held in Beijing
with senior government officials. The president assured China that
Turkey was ready to lend all kinds of support to the BRI.
However, the camaraderie between the two nations did not last. The
relations between China and Turkey became tense again in 2019. Reports
emerged that a famous Uyghur poet, Abdurrehim Heyit, had died in a
Chinese detention camp on February 9, 2019. The Turkish Foreign
Ministry condemned China by making a harsh statement, assuaging the
anger of the Turkish public. But the Turkish Foreign Ministry found
itself in a difficult situation when China released a video that
showed that the Muslim poet was still alive the next day.
Like previous issues, this incident was forgotten, and relations
between the two countries quickly recovered. Despite all these
disagreements between the two countries, the Chinese authorities
refrained from making caustic statements and tried not to meddle in
Turkey’s sensitive issues. However, what happened in the last months
of 2021 caused China to take a different attitude. For first time,
China is now touching on issues that Turkey might be uncomfortable
with – particularly the Kurd issue.
Beijing’s new approach comes as Turkey has been taking steps to
criticize China lately. On October 22, 43 countries, including Turkey,
urged China to “ensure full respect for the rule of law” concerning
the Muslim Uyghur community in Xinjiang. It was the first time Turkey
had supported such a call. This move provoked China.
Then, on November 12, the Turkic Council convened in Istanbul and
changed its name to the Organization of Turkic States. This convention
stirred political tensions in China, where approximately 10 million
Uyghurs live. The date of the establishment of the Organization of
Turkish States was critical – perhaps this was the main issue that
bothered China. The first East Turkistan Republic, including part of
today’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, was established on November
12, 1933; the second was created on November 12, 1944. As a result,
the announcement of the Organization of Turkic States on the same date
drew many questions about the motives of the Turkish authorities. Was
it a coincidence, or was this date intentionally chosen?
Later actions of senior politicians in Ankara suggested that the date
was, in fact, politically motivated. Erdogan and Nationalist Movement
Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahceli posed for the cameras with a “Map
of the Turkish World” during their meeting on November 17. The map
included the Xinjiang region, homeland of the Uyghurs.
These incidents forced China to move against Turkey. China’s Deputy
Permanent Representative to the United Nations Geng Shuang accused
Turkey of violating human rights in Syria. Geng described Turkey’s
actions in northeast Syria as illegal. “Since Turkey illegally invaded
north-eastern Syria, it has regularly cut off the water supply service
from the Alouk Water Station,” he said. A fierce argument ensued
between Geng and Turkey’s representative, Feridun Sinirlioglu.
Responding to the allegations, Sinirlioglu said Turkey would not learn
from those who violate international human rights law and humanitarian
law. “Both the PKK/YPG and the Syrian regime abuse this Alouk Water
Station issue repeatedly for their ill-minded agendas,” he added.
The tit-for-tat continued. On November 24, Turkey’s Erdogan made a
bold statement in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. He said:
“We keep track of the situation of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities
in China with great sensitivity. Our expectation is that the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation will show sensitivity to Uyghurs
in line with its founding purposes.”
Authorities in Beijing fought back. A day later, Geng Shuang
criticized Turkey’s air operations in Iraq at the United Nations and
claimed that civilians were killed due to the airstrikes. Geng also
called for respect for Iraq’s sovereignty.
After Turkey’s remarks on the Uyghur situation, China retaliated by
focusing on the regions where Kurds live and accusing Turkey of human
rights abuses in these regions. The Chinese actions sent a clear
message to Turkey that China will retaliate if Ankara continues to
meddle in the Uyghur issue. China’s playbook is simple: If Ankara
continues to criticize China over the Uyghur issue, then Beijing will
bring Turkey’s actions in Iraq and Syria to the international agenda.
These ongoing political events show that China-Turkey relations will
likely enter a troubled period in the future. Most likely, with the
increasing presence of China in the Middle East, Beijing may become an
important player in the Kurdish issue.
**
Dr. Nurettin Akcay obtained his Ph.D. in Global Studies from Shanghai
University. In addition to his academic career, he writes columns for
the media outlet Independent Turkish
[
 ].

1993: Armenia

Jalatian Sonya
Mississippi, Dec 4 2021

  • Kaveh Kazemi // Getty Images

    •  

  • Dec 4, 2021

Armenia was one of several countries whose economy fell on hard times after the Soviet Union broke apart in 1991. Unfortunately, this is not where Armenia’s troubles ended. In 1988, a devastating 6.8 earthquake killed 60,000 Armenians and left thousands of people homeless, according to the BBC.

After the earthquake, government leaders decided to shut down the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, also known as the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant, which led to severe energy and supply shortages in the early to mid-1990s. These factors eventually led to a monthly inflation rate of 438% in November 1993, according to the CATO Institute, with prices doubling nearly every 13 days.

 

Skunder Boghossian, the Ethiopian Armenian who bridged Africa and the West through art

Chakhmakhchian Vatche
Dec 4 2021

 JULIAN MCBRIDE



                                                                                                  


Human civilization was born in Africa (out of Africa theory). The first traces of human history came from Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. After colonialism across Africa, save for a few nations, including Ethiopia, African culture was opened up to the modern world.


In an age when African culture was relatively new to the West, many people in Europe and North America did not understand the origins, diverse ethnic groups, or history of Africa. There was one man who helped bridge that gap through art, and his name was Skunder Boghossian.

Skunder Boghossian, one of the best-known African artists who influenced the west, was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from an Armenian father named Kosrof Gregorios Boghossian and an Ethiopian mother of Amhara origins named Tsedale Wolde Tekle in 1937. 

His grandfather, Gregorios Boghossian, was an Armenian trader who used to work as a traveling business ambassador in Europe to Emperor Menelik II, and his father Kosrof Boghossian was a Col. in the Ethiopian Imperial Guard under Emperor Haile Selassie I.

                                                                                                            

 Skunder won the 2nd prize during the Jubilee anniversary of Emperor Haile Selassie’s coronation only at the age of 17, and he was granted a scholarship in 1955. He studied and lectured in several European and American Universities throughout his life.

Skunder Boghossian was the first contemporary Ethiopian artist whose work was bought by both the Musee d’Art Moderne in Paris (1963), and the Museum of Modern Art in New York (1965). Various private collectors, museums, and world governments would often invite him to display his work in art galleries across the world, or even procure some.

For example, the National Museum of African Art in Washington owns several of his paintings. On May 18, 2003, Skunder passed away naturally. The world-renowned New York Times reported his death as: “Skunder Boghossian, Artist who bridged Africa & West died on May 4 at Howard University Hospital in Washington DC at the age of 65.” [see https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/18/nyregion/skunder-boghossian-65-artist-who-bridged-africa-and-west.html ]

https://face2faceafrica.com/article/skunder-boghossian-the-ethiopian-armenian-who-bridged-africa-and-the-west-through-art








How to master the art of modeling by a Dubai-based Armenian/Persian model Az Nosrati.

Emil Lazarian
Dec 4 2021

By kingsmarketing

  

December 4, 2021

“The secret to modeling is not being perfect. What one needs is a face that people can identify in a second. You have to be given what’s needed by nature and what’s needed is to bring something new” ~ Karl Lagerfeld

Do you want to become a model? Do you want to add wings to your dreams of being a fashion model? Are you hankering to walk the runway? Do you like to get a chance to appear in magazines? Certainly, there would be lots of nodded heads for a big ‘YES’ because obviously, the influence of modeling has reached far beyond anything else. Countless women dream about becoming models and trying their luck to enter into the glamorous field, while a few are born to become superstar models and inspire the world. Az Nosrati is one of such fashion’s illustrious models who has the kind of vigorous body many women aspire to. Az started modeling at the age of seventeen when she was mature enough for her age. It’s been more than twelve years of her being in the modeling industry. The change in her, the development in her body and mind over the years made her a better model than she was in her teens. Az also has eight years of experience in sales as a sales executive, in exhibitions & in hosting the shows as well.

Az is a Dubai-based half-A Armenian/Persian model famous for her good looks and virtuous personality. Az never thought to pursue modeling as a career until it didn’t happen. She never chose to model, instead of modeling chose her. It is said that whatever is made for you, is automatically made its way to you. With a great sense of walking, posing, and smiling, Az is living a model dom lifestyle. She indeed lives and breathes fashion. Being a model is who she is and whose life revolves around her passion & her first love, modeling.

In early times, models were considered as walking mannequins and hangers to hang clothes who had no values, no respect in others’ eyes, neither as a model nor as a profession. Now, in the contemporary world, modeling has become a subjective industry that emphasizes the projection of personality and _expression_ of models. People’s perception of the fashion industry has changed forever and so has the models & modeling because putting fashion equal to fashion models won’t be wrong. Ms. Nosrati attended trade show modeling courses and editorial courses when she was just fifteen years old but she learned the rest of the modeling categories by herself by watching modeling videos and poses. She says, “In this era of technology, one can learn everything online through advanced YouTube videos, websites, and from a lot of other online portals. You just need to be disciplined and consistent because these are the keys to a successful modeling career.” Az Nosrati was awarded the title of MISS INTERNATIONAL DUBAI, 2020, and has been a part of many other shows as well.

There was a time when online platforms were used to only communicate & chat with loved ones. But now people are well aware of the power of social media. A huge increase in Instagram models has been noticed in the past few years. Instagram has become a magical way for those who want to take control over their careers. Availing social media to empower aspiring models, Ms. Nosrati has made her presence felt on online portals like Instagram with her magnificent modeling portfolios and alluring pictures. Anybody can relish her feed full of different poses and styles especially women who can take ideas and inspiration on how to conquer social media and the art of modeling.

https://foxinterviewer.com/people/az-nosrati/

Co-Chairs regret that it was not possible to hold meeting of Armenian, Azerbaijani FMs in Stockholm

Tatoyan Vazgen
Public Radio of Armenia
Dec 4 2021
December 4, 2021, 20:43

 1 minute read

The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Andrew Schofer of the United States of America, Igor Khovaev of the Russian Federation, and Brice Roquefeuil of France) released the following statement today: 

The Co-Chairs met with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on 1 December and with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jehun Bayramov on 2 December on the margins of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Stockholm. The Co-Chairs also met incoming OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau. The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office (PRCiO) Andrzej Kasprzyk participated in the meetings.     

The Co-Chairs regret that it was not possible to hold a joint meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan under their auspices in Stockholm. They express their readiness to host such a meeting as soon as circumstances allow to continue discussions begun in New York in September and in Paris in November.   

VP confirms Turkish intelligence was involved in Karabakh war

Chmshkian Vicken
PanArmenian, Armenia
Dec 4 2021
December 4, 2021 – 16:57 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Turkey’s vice president Fuat Oktay has said the country’s National Intelligence Organization (MİT) played an active role in the Nagorno-Karabakh war in 2020, helping shape the balances in the field, Nordic Monitor reports.

Oktay made a presentation on the annual activities of state institutions operating under the Presidency at parliament’s Planning and Budget Committee on November 26. Stating that MİT is a “source of pride” for the country, Oktay told deputies that the organization renders great service to Turkey’s interests with the operations it carries out abroad.

“In many regions such as Syria, Libya, Upper Karabakh and most recently Afghanistan, the organization has carried out important work that protects our national interests and shapes the balances in the field in favor of our country, in line with our state policy,” he said.

It is no secret that Turkey supported its ally Azerbaijan militarily, but no official statement has ever been made regarding the involvement of Turkish intelligence in the war.

In the war against Artsakh (Karabakh), Turkey supported Azerbaijan militarily, also by transferring terrorist mercenaries from the Middle East to fight against Karabakh. Armenia was the first to report on Turkey’s deployment of thousands of Syrian fighters to Azerbaijan. International media publications followed suit, as did reactions from France, Russia, Iran and Syria. The Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army has already unveiled footage from the interrogation of two such terrorists captured on the front.

Any status within Azerbaijan unacceptable: Artsakh FM addresses the conference of ANC Offices

Alex Jidarian
Public Radio of Armenia
Dec 4 2021
December 4, 2021, 13:09

 1 minute read

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh David Babayan participated in the conference of the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun Hay Dat Committees and Offices, which took place in the Grand Hall of the National Assembly of Artsakh, and delivered a speech.

In his speech, the Foreign Minister touched upon the main directions of the foreign policy of the Republic of Artsakh, regional developments, and the Azerbaijani-Karabagh conflict settlement process.

Among the foreign policy priorities David Babayan pointed out the international recognition of the Republic, de-occupation of the territories of the Republic of Artsakh, comprehensive and just settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabagh conflict, as well as the development and expansion of relations with different countries and their entities.

The Minister stressed that any status within Azerbaijan is unacceptable for the people and authorities of Artsakh, which would mean annihilation of Artsakh and the Armenian statehood.

For the effective solution of those problems, the Foreign Minister noted the importance of the status of Artsakh as a geopolitical actor, the Pan-Armenian unity, and perception of Artsakh as a supreme national value in Armenia and in the Diaspora.

David Babayan highly appreciated the works carried out by the Hay Dat Offices and their contribution to the development and strengthening of Artsakh. The Minister expressed gratitude to the ARF Hay Dat for its patriotic activities and expressed hope that the structure would continue its work with the same zeal and dedication and that the Artsakh-centrism would remain among the pillars of its activity.

During the conference, the Foreign Minister also answered the questions of the participants related to the challenges in the foreign policy sphere and the works carried out to overcome them.

Birthday wish from Hakob Mikoyan – "Gift me a bag of trash"

Bedik Zaminian
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 4 2021

Radio engineer, military officer Hakob Mikoyan marks his birthday on December 11. Like  many, he is looking forward to get birthday presents, yet his expectation differs from others. Anyone who wants to make a gift to Hakob can do so by simply collecting and gifting him a bag of filled with actual trash.  

In a conversation with Panorama.am Hakob confessed: “My friends all over the world, people whom I know and even strangers can support my idea on that day by simply collecting garbage, pack it in a bag and gift me.”  Hakob didn’t specify what type of garbage can be collected. The only precondition is to clean the garbage left by others. In his words, everyone can join his initiative from their courtyard. 

“Join me from your courtyard” is the message Hakob is sending to all compatriots and believes everyone can find a time to #clean their courtyards, at the same time prepare a gift for him. 

This extraordinary idea of birthday present came to Hakob two years ago, and he shared it with his friends. On his birthday then he received 50 bags of garbage, later friends joint him and picked up a truck of garbage from Yerevan Botanical Garden. His expectation for gifts are even more for this year, as he has launched birthday present awareness campaign long before the birthday. 

“I hope that people reading this article will join the initiative as well. I would be especially happy of strangers join. The trash is in huge amounts and everywhere. Everyone can get a gift for me. I call on all who are concerned about environment join this initiative regardless of their political, religious affiliations and nationality,” said Hakob. 

His wish is to turn garbage collection into a trendy exercise. Mikoyan himself collects a bag of garbage every day and also thinks of establishing nationwide garbage collecting initiative that could be implemented by only volunteers. 

“If we want to have a prosperous life, we should change the quality of our life. That is to say introduce army rule and discipline into our routine. This is not simply a process of garbage collection but an _expression_ of love toward the country and homeland. Removing the trash from the ground is a form of tribute and honor to soldier who fell for this land,” Hakob said. 

Hakob calls on all citizens to join the initiative every day before the work or after it, by cleaning garbage from various locations in the city. As for the gift on his birthday, people can join it on December 11 by simply collecting garbage, packing and posting the photo of it on the Facebook page “Littering is a shame.”