Turkish Forum

Author: Azer Hasret

  • “Angry snakes were attacking people in tents”

    “Angry snakes were attacking people in tents”

    By Azer HASRET

    The headline is from the piece written recently by the well-known Azerbaijani journalist Seymur Verdizade, an editor-in-chief of the online publication Yeni Sabah.

    Our esteemed readers can remember, a bit while ago I have had an article about Seymur’s journey back to his house in Soltanli village of Jabrayil district which was liberated from Armenia’s occupation in 2020’s 44-day war. Seymur had visited his home village on April 2021 and was filmed crying on the remnants of his house.

    Thus, I wrote an article called “A Long Journey of an IDP Journalist to His House” where described feelings of Seymur.

    A Long Journey of an IDP Journalist to His House

    Now Azerbaijan has conducted a local antiterror operation in the territories of Karabakh, where Armenia’s Army remnants were still creating disturbances. After very successful operation a 10-thousand strong Army of Armenia agreed to surrender. Then a small Armenian community members decided to leave Azerbaijan forever. Or some of them will come back maybe.

    Armenians are complaining of the situation. Some of them call Azerbaijan as an aggressor and even occupant. But the world knows and sees that Azerbaijan did not attack any other country’s territory. It has conducted an antiterror operation on its soil only.

    Seymur has an answer to those Armenians who is complaining of the situation. As Seymur himself is and IDP due to Armenia’s occupation I found his article interesting and of need to spread around. That’s why asked him to provide it in English so many people around the world can read, understand and compare the realities. Especially those who fell a victim of Armenian propaganda.

    30 Years Ago We Lived in Tents, Now It’s Your Turn

    By Seymur VERDIZADE

    In these days of victory, if we take a trip to history and remember those hard and difficult days when we were exiled from our native land, wouldn’t you be sad?

    Hah, is there a single second been forgotten in these 30 years?!

    This pain burned us from inside. Because the smoke of this fire did not come out, there was no one to pour water on it and put out the fire. We were left in flames.

    We had a two-story house and a garden with flowers in Jabrayil. When my late grandfather built the second floor, the neighbors said: “Nurullah, even if a cannon is thrown, your house will not collapse”.

    Therefore, when Karabakh was under occupation, I often said: “We had a bulletproof house in Jabrayil”.

    Seymur Verdizade on the remnants of his house after 27 years. 13 April 2021
    Seymur Verdizade on the remnants of his house after 27 years. 13 April 2021

    You know, when Jabrayil was occupied, when my native Soltanli village, where I was born, fell into the hands of the enemy, Armenians fired cannons at our house. But even the cannon fire could not erase our house from the face of the earth. Look carefully at the photo I shared: many of those majestic columns are still in place, which look like castle walls…

    Since my late father was the youngest child in the house, our grandfather’s legacy was left to us. We had only one tractor with which we could bring everything that my father and grandfather had built, bought and accumulated over the years. We took our clothes and the five or six light items that my mother pointed out in tears and set off towards my friend’s house in Beylagan on the expired tractor. We couldn’t fit into a house because our relatives came after us. At night they made beds for the children under the dining table.

    About a month later, we moved to Baku thanks to the support and dedication of Aziz Azizov, who is now the director of the Surakhani district and is known as a devoted patron of the families of martyrs, veterans, and former IDPs in the region.

    We were now more comfortable in a room reserved for us in the administrative building of the old tram park. Unlike the house we took shelter in before, when we slept here at night, we could fully open our legs…

    Most of our relatives and friends stayed in the regions. They were placed in tent cities. They suffered from cold in winter and heat in summer. Venomous snakes often entered the tents where the people lived. Those who escaped the hands of Armenians died from snake venom and various infectious diseases…

    During the local anti-terror measures, a group of Armenian residents of Karabakh were placed in tents so that they would not be harmed. They have all kinds of guarantees. I saw their pictures yesterday that the elderly and sick Armenians are fed by the Azerbaijani police with their own hands…

    We will not do to you even 3 percent of what you did to us thirty years ago. If you give up your grudge, you will soon return to your homes. It’s been 30 years, but because of you, we still can’t go back home…

    The punishment for the crime you committed should have been severe, very severe. You are lucky that the state and people of Azerbaijan do not live with a sense of revenge. In fact, now your loved ones should have built a mourning tent for you, but we are building a tent to live…

  • The US’s Hypocrisy or How Does Look Like Double Standards…

    The US’s Hypocrisy or How Does Look Like Double Standards…

    The US’s Hypocrisy or How Does Look Like Double Standards…

    By Azer HASRET

    We know that the United States of America is the biggest and most powerful country of the world. We understand this and take it into account. But when it comes to fairness, we see that this very most powerful country is biased and hypocritic…

    We are talking about the approach of the US towards the same issue in different countries.

    The US is supporting territorial integrity of Ukraine which is now facing unfair occupation war by its neighbor – Russia. Ukraine is defending itself and even I’m in support of this country. Because I believe and know that Ukraine is in a right side.

    The US also is supporting Ukraine. By any possible means. Like providing huge amount of financial aid plus arms support. We appreciate the US’s this very approach.

    Why do the US do that? The answer is very clear: The US is supporting Ukraine to defend its territorial integrity and state sovereignty.

    Great! Thanks to the US for this approach!

    Indeed, the US is supporting those countries which is under Russian occupation or Russia’s oppression! Thanks again!

    Logically if you do something in a likewise situation for someone you must do the same for others as well.

    Thus, if the US is supporting Ukraine’s fight for its territorial integrity, it must support other countries which suffer from the occupation and separatism the same way!

    But what do we see?

    We see that the US is not doing the same for other countries or for one single country which is also facing occupation and separatism.

    We are talking about Azerbaijan. Most clearly, about US’s stance towards the case with Azerbaijan which is trying to end up with occupation and separatism on its soil…

    Azerbaijani lands were occupied by Armenia 30 years ago. And all cities, villages, even cemeteries, mosques, libraries, cinemas, theatres were destroyed by Armenian occupants during those years.

    Plus, some 250 thousand Azerbaijanis were ethnically cleansed from Armenia. Then some 750 thousand Azerbaijanis again ethnically cleansed from the occupied Azerbaijani lands by Armenia…

    Thus about 1 million Azerbaijanis were ethnically cleansed from their lands. Up today they can’t return to their homes/lands. The reason is Armenians/Armenia.

    Today some 30 to 40 thousand Armenians are living in Karabakh, Azerbaijan. This region is internationally recognized part of Azerbaijan and no country on the world including the US is against this…

    But from time to time the US policy makers stage discussions about 30 thousand Karabakh Armenians while we don’t hear from them a single word about 1 million Azerbaijanis expelled from their homes/lands.

    We understand and accept that some politicians in the US are supporting Armenians and calling for their rights to be provided. But is there a need for that? Or why to call on Azerbaijan to respect the rights of a small Armenian community while Azerbaijan itself announced that their rights will be protected under the Constitution of the country?

    Azerbaijan repeatedly announced and announces that it will protect Armenian community as well based on the Constitution of the country. So, what is the problem? Or why some people in the US are upset? And why these politicians of the biggest world power are calling on Azerbaijan to respect the rights of Armenians?

    Is Azerbaijan doing something opposite? Is Azerbaijan ignoring the rights of Armenian community?

    No! Clearly no!

    The situation with Armenians is like this. The logic says that the US or other world powers are not interested in rights of Armenians in Karabakh, Azerbaijan. They are interested in producing as much as possible pretexts to press Azerbaijan!

    And by this stance they are forcing Azerbaijan back to the USSR (Russia), while this country is looking towards the West for the integration…

    At the end of this short piece, we’d like to stress out again that the US is supporting the territorial integrity of Ukraine or Georgia which lands are under Russia’s occupation. But the same US is hypocritically avoiding the issue of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan while talking about rights of Armenians…

    Azerbaijan and Armenia must think twice while considering the relations with the US. If not, the US will force both countries to a new war. But we don’t want a new war or any military clashes…

  • BBC Was Biased and One-sided

    BBC Was Biased and One-sided

    By Azer HASRET

    Just a few days ago BBC World News aired an interview with two Armenian activists. One of them was connected live from Los Angeles, another one from Azerbaijani city of Khankendi.

    For those who is not quite enough familiar with the region of South Caucasus, Khankendi is a city within Karabakh Economic Region of Azerbaijan with the majority Armenian population. The city alongside with other parts of Karabakh and now Eastern Zangezur was under occupation of Armenia starting from early 1990s And the whole region was liberated by Azerbaijan during the 44-day war of 2020 provoked by Armenia to capture new lands.

    As Azerbaijan managed to end the war with total victory it has offered to local Armenians to stay and live in peace. Those days Armenian population of about 30-40 thousand people was ready for reconciliation. And under the control of the Russian peacekeepers, they started again to live usual life.

    Azerbaijan has kept open The Lachin Corridor for the Armenians of Karabakh to be in touch with Armenia as the region being under occupation of Armenia was connected to the latest. Thus, people have ties in Armenia, and they need to be in touch. Azerbaijan instead of being winner of the war, took into consideration this issue as well as a humanitarian need.

    But after some times Azerbaijan has discovered that Armenians are using The Lachin Corridor to carry in weapons and heavy army units in order to prepare for the new war. Alongside with this Azerbaijan managed to build completely new road connecting Karabakh’s center Khankendi with Armenia. Afterwards, a year ago the new road was open, and Armenians were happy to use this more suitable connection. But it was misused as well. That’s why Azerbaijan starting from April 23, 2023, installed new checkpoint at the border with Armenia in order to prevent illegal use of the road.

    Afterwards Armenians started to spread a propaganda, that Azerbaijan is “killing 120 thousand peaceful Armenians in Karabakh through starvation”. They call it even a new “genocide” again Armenians by Turks…

    But during these past months no single Armenian was killed due to starvation. And Azerbaijan did not close the road in full leaving it open for humanitarian needs. And by today as well Armenians are using the road in both directions to connect between Armenia and Azerbaijan Karabakh region. (Plus, Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society has sent 40 tons of wheat flour for Armenians in Karabakh which is still blocked by the Armenians and can’t be delivered to the people in need…)

    Instead of this situation Armenians are trying illegally pass through The Lachin Road. And Azerbaijan is preventing them from doing this. Plus, Armenian propaganda machine calls The Lachin Border Checkpoint “illegal installation”. According to their minds Azerbaijan must keep open its border with Armenia with no control. Is it possible? Or is there any country on the world which keeps its borders open with no checkpoints? Does Armenia itself keep its borders open to other countries as well? Not of course! But they demand that Azerbaijan must keep its borders open with no checkpoint for Armenians, even for others from foreign countries whom they wish to see in Karabakh!

    Now that was a small portion of the history or some kind of enlightenment for those who is not quite familiar with the region and the issues, which are misused by Armenian propaganda.

    As the situation is very clear, BBC World News a couple of days ago has aired and interview with two above mentioned Armenians. Of course, the media is and must be free to cover any issue. But even the BBC’s code of conduct requires to be balanced and impartial while airing any news or commentary.

    In BBC’s above-mentioned broadcast under the title “The Context” only one side was interviewed and given an opportunity to speak. And unfortunately, both interviewers were Armenians and both of them failed to speak in a fair manner. What did they do? Of course, they accused Azerbaijan for “killing and genociding 120 thousand Armenians of Karabakh through starvation”.

    We have noted that there are not 120 thousand Armenians in Karabakh. This is a small portion of population with a figure of between 30 to 40 thousand people.

    What was stranger and more unacceptable, the BBC presented an interviewer from Khankendi, Karabakh as a “Former Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Artsakh”!

    “Republic of Artsakh”? Where is it? What is that? Does the world know about this so-called republic? Not of course! There is nothing called a “Republic of Artsakh” and no world country, no international organization recognizes such an entity. But the BBC, seems does “recognize” it…

    Of course, we could stop a bit on the wordings of the interviewers. But we don’t do that. Because it was alongside with official Armenian fake propaganda and based on the accusations towards Azerbaijan with no base!

    We understand Armenian propagandists. But it is not easy to understand the BBC which is to serve the truth and only truth.

    That’s why as a career journalist with about 30 years of professional activity and international practice I do accuse the BBC’s this kind of stance and call on this news media to air apology and refutation. Hope, that BBC will find enough courage to do this…

  • Kazakhstan on the Eve of the Presidential Election

    Kazakhstan on the Eve of the Presidential Election

    As Kazakhstan is entering new era of development, my Kazakh colleague compiled a piece to shed a light on the today’s political landscape of the country. In order to share these valuable views, I decided to share his article with our esteemed readers. BTW, Presidential elections are set to be conducted on November 20, 2022.

    Kazakhstan is Entering an Era of Change

    Anuar Azimov – Public Foundation “Center for Political and Social Research”, Almaty

    Each regular election cycle actualizes new challenges to society and authorities in any country in the world.  In an era of unstable geopolitical situation, as well as ongoing conflicts, the domestic political situation in Kazakhstan remains relatively calm.

    Issues of stability and planned development are an important basis for the satisfaction of social strata with their position.

    For example, after the collapse of the Soviet Union and gaining independence, new countries needed a strategy for the development of a sovereign political and economic system, taking into account the current financial realities, mentality, and the national composition of the subject.

    In this context, the basis for the systematic development of Kazakhstani society is peace and stability. The cornerstone in this case is inter-ethnic harmony and inter-confessional harmony.  These approaches made it possible to preserve and increase the functional viability of the statehood of Kazakhstan over the period of independence.

    However, international turbulence and a systematic change in the world order pose new challenges and threats to the country. The main task for Kazakhstan at this stage is to strengthen statehood, cohesion and progressive economic development.

    In this regard, the political and institutional reforms put forward by the current President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev correspond to the current realities and are conditioned by the desire to further increase the welfare of Kazakhstani society.

    In this regard, early elections, as well as an increase in the term of the presidency, will provide an opportunity for the current head of state to fully build the basis for the implementation of a package of reforms necessary to build a just and prosperous people of Kazakhstan.  This is indicated by the positive experience of many democratic Western countries, which took time to build a strategy, systematize and nurture the necessary personnel for the full implementation of evolutionary reforms.

    It is now that the moment has come when the Kazakh society, having passed certain years, is ready to accept new changes and transformation for Kazakhstan to become one of the most developed countries peace.

  • British Media Failed to Cover Terror Attack on Embassy in London

    British Media Failed to Cover Terror Attack on Embassy in London

    By Azer Hasret

    On August 4, 2022, a group of radical Shia Islamists had attacked the Embassy of Azerbaijan in London. The action happened early afternoon at a worktime. What was strange British police was present and they did not prevent attackers from this wrongdoing.

    According to media reports radicals approached Embassy’s building, entered, took away some of the belongings and damaged them.

    Then a dozen of members of the group went on the balcony of the Embassy, hoisted so-called flag of Huseyn. Some of them wrote something in Arabic language on the walls and windows of the Embassy which is located at the 2nd floor of the building.

    Afterwards one of the assailants approached the flag of Azerbaijan, took it away and dropped on the street.

    The national flag of Azerbaijan, pictures of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his father, former President Heydar Aliyev were walked through by the radicals on the street.

    And these actions were perpetrated before the eyes of London policemen who were very tolerant towards these wrongdoings.

    After some 2 hours of the action policemen arrested several perpetrators. Everything was filmed and aired live.

    Wasn’t this strange?

    That was.

    In the center of the city like London a group of radicals attack an embassy, damage belongings and policemen present do not take action to prevent this vandalism…

    That was strange appearance in the most known and most secure city of the world…

    So as this action happened one could think that the UK media would cover this kind of attack in the city. But what happened to the most “independent” and “free” UK media?

    According to the reports most mainstream media of the UK preferred to keep silence regarding this terror attack on the Embassy of Azerbaijan…

    Being a citizen of the new democracy – Azerbaijan we were really shocked not due to action of vandalism taken against the Embassy, but due to the silence of the UK mainstream media.

    Wasn’t that really news worth case? Imagine, a group of radicals claimed to be Shia Islamists attack an embassy, damage its property, and this happens in more than two hours period in front of the UK police. And this story is not news worth for the UK media.

    But we remember even one man whatever does in London and across the world the UK media covers it. Usually, they like to show while someone claiming to be Muslim takes any radical action. The UK media covers this kind of cases bringing to readers/viewers/listeners as a case of “radical Islam”.

    Now what happened? A group, attacking Azerbaijani Embassy claimed to be Shia Islamists and they are known as radical group. They claim to be “Mahdi Servants Union” and stated an attack as response to the Azerbaijani Government “repressions” against Shia Muslims.

    Just to remind, Azerbaijan is a secular new democracy, and no religion is suppressed here. But some people misusing Islamic religion for dirty purposes by the order of the Islamic Republic of Iran are trying to destabilize Azerbaijan. So, the Government of Azerbaijan takes preventive measures in order to assure stability and security. In this case radical religious groups claim to be oppressed and the likewise groups as “Mahdi Servants Union” use this opportunity to showcase against Azerbaijan.

    And in this case the UK mainstream media keeps silence, turns blind eye and thus shows its bias towards the nations and countries.

    That was the UK media which used to cover even the garbage dumps in Azerbaijan during the 1st European Games staged in Baku in 2015. They were paying very high “attention” on Azerbaijan using any small opportunity.

    But what happened now? Why the UK media failed to follow the principles of impartiality and media ethics and prevented itself from covering a brutal attack on the Embassy?

    Was that due to the Embassy being the Azerbaijani one? What would happen if the radical “Muslims” would attack any other country’s embassy like for example the Embassy of Armenia or etc.?

    We believe, that the UK media would cover this attack as “terror attack of Muslim group on Christian country’s embassy”.

    Then they say that the UK and even all Western media are free and independent…

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjNnNaigNB4

  • A Long Journey of an IDP Journalist to His House

    A Long Journey of an IDP Journalist to His House

    By Azer HASRET

    This is my friend and colleague, sitting on the remnants of the wall. He is a well-known journalist and a very active citizen.

    For those who has no information about this person and a place where he is sitting, this is just a photo.

    But for me and for all those who know this person and the place where he is sitting on the remnants of once a house, this is a tragedy. Very deep human tragedy.

    Seymur Verdizade on the remnants of his house after 27 years. 13 April 2021

    A person on the photo is Seymur Verdizade, very famous Azerbaijani journalist. Studied in Turkey and worked for very famous media outlets of Azerbaijan for more than 20 years. Nowadays he is an editor-in-chief of comparatively new media unit Yeni Sabah.

    Seymur was born in Karabakh, Azerbaijan. To be more clear, he grew up in Soltanli village of Jabrayil region of Azerbaijan which is located in the South part of the Republic of Azerbaijan near the border with Iran.

    While asked about his memories he told me that left the village in 1993, before the occupation by Armenia and during the next 27 years never could return back. As Armenia occupied Jabrayil regional center – city of Jabrayil as well on August 23, 1993 none of its residents were able to get back. All of them were ethnically cleansed and some were even eliminated through killing.

    “My village – Soltanli was occupied on October, 1993. Last time I was there on September, 1993. Once Armenian Army entered the village my family members escaped through Khudafarin Bridge on the river of Araz and entered Iran’s territory. Then they moved to Baku”, narrates Seymur…

    Seymur’s some relatives also were among those killed by Armenian occupant Army. But those who survived lived in other parts of Azerbaijan as an IDP (Internally Displaced Person) and waited for the day when they will have opportunity to go back.

    Seymur also lived as an IDP during these 27 years. He also believed that one day will go back to their village and kiss the walls of the house where he grew up as a happy child within the family once very happy.

    All those, who were ethnically cleansed from the occupied by Armenia lands believed to go back and see the houses, yards, even everything which they left behind while leaving Karabakh…

    But while Azerbaijani Army liberated from Armenian occupation the lands of Karabakh one by one the scene was horrific. No any building, road, even forest was as before. Everything was destroyed in total and all houses, schools, other buildings were wiped off the earth.

    During those 27 years Armenians not only kept under occupation those lands, but they looted them in order to wipe off the traces of aboriginal population.

    Liberation of Seymur’s village – Soltanli was announced on October 19, 2020 by the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev through his social media account.

    “I can’t describe my happiness. Everyone was congratulating each other and we could not believe that the time is approached when we’ll have an opportunity to go back to our village”, says Seymur. “We just everyday prayed and waited for that hour when our steps will land on the village of ours.”

    But Seymur’s journey to his native village was not very close and easy. Even as the war ended on November 10, 2020 after Armenia’s capitulation, more than 700 thousands IDPs could not and even today can’t return to their houses. The reason is very simple: Armenians destroyed all their houses and looted everything. To rebuild and return people to those lands will need several years and huge amount of money…

    Even not for living, just to see. This is impossible as well. The reason in this case is the landmines planted by Armenians everywhere which needs tremendous work of demining. Hundreds of thousands landmines are planted in total area which was under occupation of Armenia.

    After liberation of the lands Azerbaijan started demining and one by one cities and villages are demined. Seymur’s Soltanli village also was among those which was demined partially and some people could enter the village.

    Seymur was among the journalists whose trip to the liberated lands was organized on April 13, 2021. They visited Jabrayil region and he was able to step on the soil of his village after 27 years!

    The photo and video are depicted on the remnants of the building which was Seymur’s family house. He was born and grew up here. And one day Armenians occupied, destroyed, looted and wiped off everything in this village as well. Seymur’s memories and the history of the people of those lands were wiped off as well.

    Armenians claim that Azerbaijanis are barbarians. They claim that Azerbaijanis are destroying Armenian heritage everywhere including Karabakh. But the case with Seymur’s house clearly shows who are barbarians and who really is destroying whose heritage…

    Soltanli village before Armenian occupation

    Anyway Seymur is happy and thankful to the Azerbaijani Army and its Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev for making possible this tremendous victory. He believes and is ready to get back to live in his village. He says, that as all other IDPs he is ready to rebuild his house as well and return to the lands where his childhood was spent. He wants to live side by side with childhood memories but says it will be impossible. Because Armenian occupants destroyed the area in total and even it was not easy to find the remnants of his native house…

    Does not matter what would happen. It is important that Azerbaijan liberated its lands from the long term occupation of Armenia. That is important! Hundreds of thousands of IDPs believe and work to rebuild Karabakh. This way Azerbaijan will show who is real barbarian and who is builder.