Ednews reported that the July 2023 edition of IRMO Brief, authored by Krševan Antun Dujmović and Peter Marko Tase, has been released. The edition of the IRMO Brief deals with the situation in the Karabakh region in the South Caucasus.
Ednews presents an interview with one of the authors, American researcher, and journalist Peter Tase:
- Mr, Peter Tase, according to the IRMO Brief, what was the significance of the Karabakh region in the military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the fall of 2020?
- Extensive research and information aim to provide a detailed perspective on the Southern Caucasus security situation and bolster Azerbaijan's national security and foreign policy. The Republic of Azerbaijan has been pivotal in preserving regional peace and strengthening economic ties with European countries. Between September 27 and October 30, 2020, Armenian armed forces launched 218 missile strikes on distant Azerbaijani settlements.
The Second Karabakh War began on September 27, 2020, ignited by Armenian forces, lasting until November 10, 2020. The conflict showcased Azerbaijan's Armed Forces' achievements, becoming a success story in modern European military history. On September 27, Armenian forces initiated a large-scale attack on Azerbaijani army positions, prompting an effective counter-offensive. Azerbaijan liberated occupied territories and secured strategic heights.
Throughout October 2020, Armenia targeted Azerbaijani cities including Ganja, Mingachevir, Khizi, and Absheron with missile attacks. On October 28, 2020, Armenia fired Smerch rockets into Barda, killing 21, injuring 70, and causing infrastructure damage. These missiles contained cluster warheads, violating international humanitarian law.
Cluster munitions, internationally banned, cause indiscriminate suffering and are responsible for civilian casualties. Colonel Babak Alakbarov emphasized the role of UAVs and Israeli-made IAI Harops in the Second Karabakh War's success. The Karabakh region's strategic importance for European economic development and trade cooperation is emphasized.
- What recent statements by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan indicate a possible recognition of Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan, and what implications could this have on the region's stability?
- The inflammatory, revanchist behavior of Pashinyan and his ambiguous statements generated more turmoil and geopolitical confusion in the Karabakh region and throughout Europe. You can see his speeches - https://www.primeminister.am/en/statements-and-messages/item/2022/09/13/Nikol-Pashinyan-Speech/
- In the context of the 2020 ceasefire, what measures are you suggesting for a just peace treaty to bring lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Karabakh region?
- Economic sanctions of EU-USA against Yerevan’s regime until the latter recognizes the internationally recognized sovereign territory of Azerbaijan and Armenia opens the road through the Zangezur Corridor and the Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan is not under the Armenian blockade!
- In your analysis, how does the IRMO Brief assess Türkiye's role as a key player in the South Caucasus and its contribution to the Azerbaijani victory in 2020? Can you elaborate on the specific contributions made by Türkiye that influenced the outcome of the 2020 military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Karabakh region?
- Türkiye is the guardian of peace and stability in the EU landscape. Thanks to the Turkish military technology and the brave men and women of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Azerbaijan has acquired a special, prestigious place in the concert of nations, after the victorious outcome of the Second Karabakh War in 2020.
-Türkiye holds a crucial role in maintaining peace and stability in the EU landscape. Through Turkish military technology and the valor of Azerbaijan's Armed Forces, the Republic of Azerbaijan gained a prestigious standing after the victorious Second Karabakh War in 2020. The Patriotic War, launched on September 27, 2020, as a response to Armenian provocations, resulted in a disastrous capitulation of Armenia's political leadership and military.
Azerbaijani soldiers from various ethnic groups showcased heroism, commitment, and courage while fighting side by side in the trenches. Their collective patriotism and high fighting spirit led to remarkable battlefield results, securing the liberation of Azerbaijan's sovereign territory. The attack on Nakhchivan on October 19, 2020, demonstrated Armenian weakness and the attempt to internationalize the conflict. The shelling of Nakhchivan aimed to involve Turkey and Russia and draw attention away from the Karabakh settlement.
Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Defense Minister David Tonoyan should be held accountable for the war crime in Nakhchivan. The strike didn't contribute to peaceful settlement and strained the situation further. According to the Nakhchivan autonomy agreement, Turkey has a responsibility for its security and territorial integrity within Azerbaijan. The strike aimed to implicate Turkey and Russia in the conflict.
- How has Türkiye's involvement in the South Caucasus impacted the region's dynamics, and what are the implications for the broader geopolitical situation?
- The Republic of Turkey has actively safeguarded peace in the Caucasus region and promoted economic growth across Europe, with a significant role in geopolitical shifts within the transatlantic framework. Conversely, UNESCO officials declined to visit Karabakh to document the barbarism during Armenian occupation, which involved three decades of destruction and environmental devastation by Yerevan's ruling elite.
Azerbaijan, driven by creativity, is resolute in constructing substantial infrastructure and industrial centers benefiting Kalbajar, Fuzuli, Qubadli District, and Zangilan District. The recent inauguration of Fuzuli International Airport, graced by Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Ilham Aliyev, underscores Azerbaijan's dedication to bolstering regional economic cooperation and effective partnerships within the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and European Union.
Thanks to Azerbaijan's heroic Armed Forces, Eurasia's civilizations have been restored in Shusha. Under President Ilham Aliyev's leadership, Shusha aims to become an exceptionally beautiful city and a premier hub of European intercultural traditions.
President Aliyev's actions, from raising Azerbaijan's flag in liberated areas, igniting Novruz bonfires in Shusha, praying in previously vandalized mosques, inaugurating public works and airports, to symbolically washing his hands in the Araz River by the renowned Khudafarin bridge, signify the deeply ingrained historical significance of Karabakh to Azerbaijan's people and its legacy in the region.
In May 2021, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed confidence in Azerbaijani-Turkish brotherhood's role in ensuring regional peace, prosperity, and stability in a congratulatory message to President Ilham Aliyev on Republic Day. During his June 14-16, 2021 visit, President Erdoğan attended the groundbreaking ceremony of a Turkish school in Shusha, recently liberated by Azerbaijan.
-Based on the IRMO Brief, what are the potential challenges in achieving lasting peace in the Karabakh region, and what role can other international stakeholders play in resolving the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan?
- Biased role of European institutions and a failed multilateral diplomacy; are two principal obstacles to achieving a lasting peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia. USA and EU nations must pressure Armenia to become a reliable partner and not a hub of drug trafficking organizations and a weapons’ smuggling center of Europe!
Ulviyya Shahin
