The Saint Petersburg Economic Forum to be held in Russia on June 2-5 is the first post pandemic global event that is focused to gather international delegations from the U.S., Germany, Italy, China, South Asia and the Middle East.
With the Forum’s main focus on energy and sustainable development, Russia aims to boost international trade ties and attract investments to its economy. And Turkey could be among most prospective partners for Russia following the SPIEF ambitions. Today Ankara’s major interest is to provide permanent gas flows through the Turkish Stream. On the other side, Turkey, a NATO’s member, has been manipulated by the United States for years following Washington’ efforts to sign a deal with Ankara on U.S. natural compress gas (GNC).
However, the recent tensions between Biden and Erdogan on Ankara’s recognition of the atrocities committed against the Armenian people in 1915 as genocide as well as the recent criticism of Erdogan towards the U.S. on the Gaza-Israeli conflict have been a sore spot between the countries placing their further economic and political cooperation in question.
This explains why Turkey has been seeking a closer cooperation with Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan to support the Turkish Stream supplies. The pipeline, which transits the Black Sea, took five years to complete and is one of two major new natural-gas export routes totaling nearly $20 billion. Russia on its parts also expects to go on line this year and the SPIEF is likely to become a platform for developing further economic cooperation and trade ties between Turkey and Russia.
The most important development in the last Palestine & Israel war was the results of opinion polls regarding the elections to be held in Gaza and the West Bank. It was clearly understood that the Fetih Movement would lose both the Presidency and its majority in the Assembly in these elections. This situation alarmed both Palestinian President Abbas and Netanyahu.
The first step came from Abbas and postponed the elections to an uncertain date. Then Netanyahu stepped up his plan to evict Palestinians around Jerusalem from their homes. He took action to evacuate the homes of about 500 Palestinians in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. Radical Jewish Groups also started demonstrations and riots in this neighborhood. However, they encountered resistance from the Palestinians that they never expected. Netanyahu increased his pressure without understanding the religious importance of the month of Ramadan for Muslims. Netanyahu announced on Sunday (May 9th) that the Israeli army will hold a major military exercise in the Lebanese border, the West Bank and Gaza. This was actually the first announcement of the war. The attack of Israeli security forces on the Aksa Mosque ignited the fuse of the bomb. Hamas responded with the same harshness to Netanyahu’s attempt. It announced that if the Israeli Army does not withdraw from the Holy Land, they will respond strongly. Indeed, Hamas fired more than 1000 rockets at Israeli targets overnight.
The range of Hamas Rockets varied between 70 and 100 km. Such an attack came as a surprise to Israel. The rockets that reached TelAviv have killed 5 Israelis and injured dozens so far. A great panic started within the Israeli Police. On the evening of May 11, Palestinians demonstrated in all Israeli cities. Especially in the city of Lid, the Israeli Police lost control and a state of emergency was declared.
Netanyahu claimed that Hamas would pay a huge price. Warplanes hit hundreds of targets in Gaza on May 11-12. Around 50 Palestinians have died so far. 13 of them are children and 4 of them are women.
Although Netanyahu spoke harshly, he contacted Cairo and the United Arab Emirates and offered to mediate with Hamas. Hamas, on the other hand, refused mediation offers and declared that they “do not trust the Israeli government and are ready for a great war”. The Kassam Brigades, which are the Special Military Units of Hamas, said that: “Some of their commanders were martyred in Israeli attacks and they will hit an important target every day”.
It is the first time that Israel has faced such strong Palestinian resistance. Many Zionist writers within Israel and in the US admit that “Israel fell short for the first time”.
Although Netanyahu succeeds in staying in the Government by going to early elections last years, this time he will not be able to do so. This war seems to be Netanyahu’s Final War. The Israeli people are tired of the war, with the exception of some radical groups. Especially 17-year-old youth recruited into the army complain of long military service periods. The New Generation aspires to live in peace with the Palestinian people with whom they live on the street.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has blamed Volodymyr Zelensky for pressure by the authorities. Its followers hoped to end persecution with the new Ukrainian President coming to power. Yet, Zelensky who stayed away from the Church affairs during the first months of his presidential term is taking on the course on further Church dissent started by the former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
Back in 2019, 49 parliamentarians requested from the Constitutional Court of Ukraine to cancel the controversial draft law “On renaming the Ukrainian Orthodox Church”. This religious organization was obliged to change its name to “Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine” in order to indicate that it was allegedly “governed by an aggressor country”.
This bill was passed two years ago. The document was part of a larger strategic plan by President Petro Poroshenko to create an “independent church.” He won the support of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and then gathered the dissenters together, promising them the role of the leading religious group in the country. This explains why the Orthodox Church of Ukraine has become so powerful.
But the majority of Ukrainians, followers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, did not want to join the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, so the government organized persecutions against them and the canonical church. Moreover, it legalized the takeover of its temples widely known in the world.
In October 2020, Volodymyr Zelensky with his spouse made a visit to Istanbul to hold a meeting with Bartholomew I of Constantinople. The Ukrainian President made it clear that the Ukrainian authorities will support further expansion of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The reaction of dissenters was swift: they announced a new wave of temple seizure making everyone believe that the power was again on their side. The courage that Ukraine has not seen since Poroshenko’s days in the office.
According to local Ukrainian experts, Bartholomew, who officially calls himself a peacemaker of all Christian world is in fact supporting the religious dissent in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian authorities, who claimed that the index of religious freedom in the country is equal to the one in Belgium (according to Andrei Yurash, the head of the Religion Division of the Ministry of Culture, this indicator was 3,2 in February, 2021, that points to the high level of religious tolerance), are also fueling the national protests in the country with their hypocritical and at times irrational policy.
Those days – in 1993 I was a student. I got back to my native village Dadali (Khachmaz) after the completion of the 1st year in the Baku State University. After spending summer months there I would come back to Baku and continue my education. I lived in students’ hostel in the 1st year and was sure, that coming back after summer holidays will continue to stay in my room…
Heydar Aliyev, who was invited by the then President Abulfaz Elchibey to Baku to rule the country, just was starting to make things accurate. But every move was too slow. Because it was impossible to act and make changes quickly. In one hand Armenia’s aggression, in another hand forced internal chaos were main obstacles even for this very experienced statesman to rule the country. But instead of this very tough situation he was trying to move the country out of these difficulties and direct to the path of development. The chaos was another chance for the enemy. That’s why Armenia was not calm, but intensifying its aggression to widen areas of occupation.
As a result several other districts around occupied Nagorno Karabakh were occupied by Armenia. On July 23, 1993 including Aghdam city itself the most part of this district was occupied as well.
I got back to Baku at the end of August, 1993. While reaching the city directly moved to the Baku State University’s hostel in order to get my room. While reaching the place approached the 4th level in the building and after few minutes I was in front of my room’s door. I tried to open the door. But couldn’t manage. Then stood a bit. While I was standing and thinking of opening the door, heard some voices from inside. Someone was approaching the door. Once I was thinking, the door opened. There was a young lady in front of me. I remember as today: her face was faded, but beautiful. Seemed sad. Was broken, but beautiful. Looked straight at me as dried up. Couldn’t manage to say a word. I stood as frozen. Then I looked at her in a moment and rolled away my eyes. Afterwards gathered my courage and could whisper: “madame, this is my room”. She understood what I did mean. And asked: “OK, have you lived in this room? I will bring your goods, I have collected them”. Then turned into the room, stepped inside. Bit a while got back with my suitcase. Saying “just please” handed it to me and again looked at me with her frozen views. This time I looked at her face as well. I dived deeply into her eyes and felt her sadness there. It was impossible not to feel that. I saw this and understood her. That’s why saying nothing took my suitcase and thanked her, stepped away…
The following years with no reason I always thought, that the lady was from Aghdam. There was no doubt that she was from Karabakh and an IDP. But why did I decide that she is from Aghdam? Up today I can’t understand this. She did not tell me where is she from, and I did not ask that…
Aghdam remembered to me with this memory as well. That Aghdam, which after 1993 remained under the occupation of Armenia for very long time. As remained under occupation its white roofs turned darker. Demolished, collapsed, burned down and was to be wiped off the earth. And once people of Azerbaijan, and the state itself came to the senses, made its spine straight and on November 20, 2020 Aghdam was freed from the occupation. Armenia was not able to stay in front of the power of Azerbaijani Army anymore. It had to step off from Aghdam as well.
Now Aghdam is free. It is under control of our state as other lands of Karabakh. We have already started rebuilding it. But this seems to be long lasting. Because the enemy has left thousands of sq km of mine paved lands. These lands need to be cleared of mines which will take a while. Aghdam is one of those lands.
…On March 13, 2021 with the order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and under the guidance of his aide Hikmat Hajiyev a group of civil society actors and journalists headed to Aghdam. It was exiting. What were we expected to see on the lands, which are liberated from the enemy’s occupation? We knew that those areas are totally destroyed. Even we had some estimates as well. But once again it was interesting what is waiting us there.
We arrived. We passed to the liberated part of Aghdam through the control point. Immediately we saw the turned upside down lands which was opposite of those that we left behind control point. These were the ruins of owl. Not only buildings, but the soil itself was upside down here. These views couldn’t not hurt our hearths. Occupant Army of Armenia had dug up every cm of the land here. Blinds, trenches, fortifications – everything was telling that the enemy was preparing to the great war. They made preparations to make our beautiful, productive lands a blood vessel once again. Seeing this I thought that it was indeed great that Azerbaijan managed to force Armenia to peace at the end and flee Aghdam with no war. If not due to those preparations warring sides could have huge losses. So we were right while relied on the strategic intellect of the Victorious Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev!
…Just ruins are present everywhere on the way to the city of Aghdam. There is no any saved building even for the sample. Not just saved one, even no any building with the roof on, or with the walls staying not touched. There are heartbreaking views everywhere around. Trees and grasses are grown inside the most houses. Right directly in the center of the rooms. But once upon one could hear happy smiles behind these walls. Now these wall remnants even do not remember human sense. It is obvious that for long years no human being has lived here. Even no one was preparing to live. Instantly one can feel that the occupants knew that one day they will be forced out of these lands. That’s why they managed to destroy everything. And they looted the whole city! They did everything in order to prevent people from living in these lands. But they failed to achieve this goal: Azerbaijan is enough powerful to rebuild these lands once more!
…A little ahead – in a short distance to the city of Aghdam our buses had stopped. We took off the buses. There were a lot of stones in piles. We thought, these are the remnants of the destroyed houses. But we were wrong. That was the 2nd Alley of Martyrs of Aghdam. Yes, dozens of years ago that was a last stop of the martyrs. The enemy with the hyena character had dug even graves, looted even bones of the dead people over there, and turned the surrounding area to the owl nest in line with his character. As the land was mined we couldn’t go closer to the place. Just could only take pictures and film the scene from a distance in order to show to the world…
After a while we entered the city of Aghdam. We have seen the liberated city on the TV channels. We knew about debris of the city. But could not imagine the scale quite enough. Now being on the area we felt the tragedy – the spirit of the war on ourselves…
It is impossible to describe everything one by one in details. Because there is nothing different from each other. All views look the same. There are destroyed buildings all around. There is no building having the roof on it. Just walls of some buildings are destroyed totally, of others in part. So this is what is left behind from the city which once had some 40-50 thousands inhabitants. And the grass, trees, which are grown inside the walls of the destroyed houses cause the strange feelings. While looking around one thinks that who lived inside these walls? Or those who lived 30 years ago here, what would feel if would be here right now?
Unfortunately we were not allowed to walk through the city freely. Because every point of the city is mined. That’s why we had to follow only the way which was shown. But instead of restricted movement we could see a lot which was quite enough to understand, film and show. We looked, saw, filmed in order to show to the entire world. To show in order, that those seeing these pictures could understand our pain.
Will they understand? We don’t know exactly. But we believe, that those who has a heart has to understand us. Otherwise it is impossible.
While Armenia has occupied the city in 1993 it suffered losses. But not so much as is present now. Now there is a city in front of eyes which is totally destroyed. It is annulled area. It is wiped off the surface. Even its cemeteries are looted. But once this was very beautiful city. This is the product of Armenian character. They do not only occupy, but after occupation the enemies implement an operation of destruction in order to wipe off the traces of history. To wipe off in order then to “prove” it, that those were “ancient Armenian lands”…
Thanks to our Army! If we would not support with tolerance Victorious Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev’s far-seeing and well thought policy, it would not be easy to liberate our lands. We could manage this as a nation! We could become an iron fist, unite behind the leader, lead a war against the enemy in line with the standards of the 21st century! Remnants of Aghdam are in our hands! Let’s be that! We will rebuild it! Siting the words of the President Ilham Aliyev, “We will revive you again, Aghdam!”
P.S. Armenians are trying to show us – Azerbaijanis, even all Turks around the world as a vandals, barbarian nation. They claim that we have destroyed their historical monuments. If someone wants to understand who really are vandals and barbarian, that person needs just to see the remnants of the city of Aghdam. That would be enough to understand. Then everyone would understand that Armenians, who accuse us in vandalism, in reality are pasting those characteristics to others, which belong to themselves.
Dadali, Khachmaz
Just only this one view is enough to understand what is done to AghdamA view of Aghdam Jooma MosqueThe roads of Aghdam…In the far point: Remnants of Aghdam Drama TheatreThe looted cemetery – Alley of Martyrs
FILE – In this Nov. 30, 2017 file photo, American soldiers wait on the tarmac in Logar province, Afghanistan. The U.S. is pausing movement of troops into Afghanistan and quarantining 1,500 new arrivals to country due to virus. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul, File)
As the Western media continues to blame Russia’s policy in Afghanistan, a never-ending information war seems to take a new round aggravating the peace process in the country.
The leading U.S. media outlets claimed Russia was funding Taliban referring to the movement’s commanders. However, both the New York Times and Insider refused to name not only their sources but also American official spokesmen who reportedly said they had found out links between Taliban’s and Russia’s banking accounts. The outlets also claimed Russia’s financial support to Taliban was aimed at killing U.S. troops in Afghanistan, but no evidence and details have ever been provided.
The claims of the Western media seem even more baseless after the interview with Qatar-based Taliban’s official spokesperson Mohammad Sohail Shahin had been released.
Speaking to journalists covering the Russian policy in the Middle East, Shahin denied any funding from Russia. “This statement is proofless and has nothing to do with the truth. We believe such claims appear in the context of the internal political struggle in the United States and are organized by opponents of the Afghan peace process”, Mohammad Shahin said. “The main goal of these campaigns is to undermine the Afghan peace process”, he added.
In February, 2020, Washington signed a peace deal with Taliban confirming to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan. However, a year on, the agreement’s major clauses have not come to effect. Much due to internal confrontations between the U.S. establishment and the U.S. Conservative Party. With Biden Administration taking the power and its policy focused on international intervention, the process is likely to be delayed. Yet, procrastination of the peace process in Afghanistan may lead to irreversible and tragic consequences in an already war-torn country and cause a total halt of economic and industrial development.
Moreover, in a current situation of limited on-spot-covering due to the closed borders, independent and non-affiliated media are not able to provide an objective view of the peace process development in Afghanistan. And this is often turned into advantage by the Western mainstream media.
To the Turkish Parliament members Statement of the All-Tatar Public Center About political hunger strike
The All-Tatar Public Center (VTOTs) announces the beginning of a political hunger strike on February 3, 2021, against the claim of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Tatarstan to the Supreme Court of the Republic of Tatarstan on recognizing the VTOTs as an extremist organization and on the liquidation of the organization, against the trial of the VTOTs. The trial will take place on February 24.
We believe that the trial of the oldest (founded in 1989) Tatar national organization, the All-Tatar Public Center (VTOTs), is an act of demonstrative disrespect for the Tatar people. VTOTs is the only Tatar public organization consistently defending the rights of the Tatar people. Since 1989, the VTOTs has been tirelessly fighting for the statehood of the Republic of Tatarstan, for the implementation of the state status of the Tatar language, for the strengthening of federalism in Russia, for the constitutional rights of all peoples of Russia. The VTOTs role is great in the adoption of the Declaration on State Sovereignty of Tatarstan on August 30, 1990, in holding a referendum on the state status of Tatarstan on March 21, 1992, and in the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Tatarstan on November 6, 1992. It should be noted that the organization has always acted within the framework of the Constitution of the Republic of Tatarstan and the Constitution of the Russian Federation. VTOTs want to be recognized as an extremist organization on absolutely trumped-up charges. For example, they find extremism in the address of the VTOTs of 2017 “SAVE THE TATAR LANGUAGE!” or in the Articles of VTOTs, which was adopted in 2004.
Recognition of the VTOTs as an extremist organization is tantamount to recognizing the Tatar people as an extremist, recognizing the extremist idea of statehood of the Republic of Tatarstan and the provisions on federalism of the Constitution of the Russian Federation (Article 5: “The federal structure of the Russian Federation is based on equality and self-determination of peoples in the Russian Federation.”), This is also a violation of the constitutional rights of citizens to public associations and freedom of thought and speech
