I urge all our international partners to make clear calls to stop the war: President Armen Sarkissian participated at the conference of the Greek journalists Union

President Armen Sarkissian participated today at the JUDAN conference of Greek journalists titled “Crisis in Caucasus and causes of the war”. He responded to the questions of the journalists from Greece and representatives of a number of leading international media outlets.

Questions addressed to the President pertained mostly to the reasons of Turkey’s involvement in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict as well as possibilities to contain Turkey’s neo-ottoman policies, which is being implemented in Syria, Lebanon, Mediterranean, and Artsakh.

President Sarkissian concurred with the observation of the journalists that Turkey’s policies are destabilizing and geospatial. He underscored that on September 27 Azerbaijan decided to reject the peace process and unleashed a war, while Turkey has been providing to Azerbaijan full political, diplomatic, and military assistance.

Responding to the question on the causes of Turkey’s involvement, the President of Armenia noted in particular, “It is obvious that in recent years Turkey is striving to become an energy hub, a country which will control energy flows from the Caspian Sea, Central Asia, from Azerbaijan to the West – Europe. And it is not only about Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan. Becoming a party to the conflict together with Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan, Turkey has established its physical presence under the pretext of allegedly helping its ethnic brothers or defending the international logistics, pipelines. In reality these are just cons of being there and not just being but also controlling and managing,” the President said. “This way, Turkey will have huge influence on Azerbaijan’s politics and eventually will have huge influence on European countries and Central Asia. Turkey strives to control energy flows, to become the dominant country which will control energy flows for the East, South, and possible from North to Europe.”

President Sarkissian noted that Turkey is talking of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan when it has occupied territories in Syria, Iraq, and Cyprus. “How come that after conducting occupation operations in so many countries, Turkey is talking today of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and says that it is very important. Their words and deeds go in opposite directions.”

The President said that the presence of Syrian refugees in Turkey is another tool which Turkey is using against Europe because the EU is spending money to keep these refugees in Turkey. “Turkey’s military, energy, and migration expansion resulted also in political expansion. Here, Turkey is making efforts to influence Russia, European Union, and the United States. Why is Turkey doing it? Twenty years ago, Turkish economy was growing rapidly, but in recent years, the picture is quite the opposite. Big international companies are withdrawing from Turkey, the economy is slowing down while nationalism and Islamic ideology are on the rise,” the President of Armenia noted. “And, as a result of all this, we see how Turkey is using extremist Islam as a tool of its domestic and foreign policy. We see how Turkey is supporting Islamist jihadists. The same jihadists, through the Turkish assistance appeared in Libya, today from Libya and Syria they are transported to Artsakh. During the first NK war there were mercenaries from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other places. However, this is the first time when Islamist jihadists have been imported to the region by another country.”

According to President Sarkissian, instability caused by Turkey in this region can reach Russia, Iran and possibly Central Asia. “Turkey has another special message: to tell the Azerbaijanis that you were not able to solve the problem, but we are here and will help you. We don’t care if Armenians have been living here for thousands years, we will carry out ethnic cleansing for you. They are also telling that they know how to do it since they did it 105 years ago. Before the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, ethnic cleaning claimed 1,5 million Armenian lives in Western Armenia.”

Responding to the question what Armenia expects from Russia, United States and European Union, President Sarkissian said, “I urge all our partners to comprehend the essence of this conflict and make clear calls to stop this war. There must be very precise and strong statements that ceasefire is a necessity and that Turkey must withdraw from this conflict.

I expect NATO’s clear position: if this Organization was created for absolutely different reasons, how can you tolerate such behavior of your member in the Caucasus?

My message to the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group is clear: get rid of Turkey’s involvement in this conflict, establish ceasefire, and bring the parties to the table of negotiations. There can be no better format that the OSCE Minsk Group.”

President Sarkissian viewed as quite logical the proposal of Greece to put embargo on the arms sales to Turkey by the countries of the EU and NATO. “If arms sold to Turkey are used against aggressor, international or Islamist terrorists that would be one thing, but when these arms originate from NATO member states and are used to target civilian population in Artsakh, it is unacceptable. If this idea or step is approved by other countries, Armenia would welcome such an initiative.”

The President of Armenia thanked the government of Greece, parliament, and the Greek people for supporting Armenians. “Our two nations have millennia-long common history. I am confident we will be able to overcome today’s difficulties and will continue to create peace, culture… Our cooperation and friendship have been going on for years and years. I am thankful to the government of Greece, parliament and those who have manifested unconditional support.”

Responding to the question of an Armenian journalist on the future steps of Diaspora, President Sarkissian first thanked Armenians all over the world. “I trust they are displaying fantastic behavior. I would like to use this opportunity to thank them all. I know why this issue is so sensitive for our brothers and sisters in Diaspora. This is not just homeland for them; for them, Artsakh is part of the Armenian history and heritage, part of the Armenian culture. Turkey’s involvement has totally changed the situation because for every Armenian, Turkey’s engagement in the war against Armenians is reminiscent of the Genocide. This is one thing the Armenian nation will not tolerate.”