Tensions in Armenia: Turkish President Urges Peace Amidst Western Support

Tommy Patrio Sorongan, CNBC Indonesia

Tuesday, 11/21/2023 21:30 WIB

Photo: REUTERS/IRAKLI GEDENIDZE

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Armenia to work with Turkey and Azerbaijan to build peace rather than relying on weapons and training from the West. This happened when Yerevan wanted to seek Western help in its war with Azerbaijan.

Armenia, which is part of the Russian-led CSTO military pact, is seeking support from the United States (US) and France after feeling neglected by Moscow. This is related to the Nagorno-Karabakh territorial dispute war with Baku.

“Those who incited Armenia for years and took advantage of the suffering, hardship and conflict experienced by all people living in this region have actually caused the greatest harm to the Armenian people,” Erdogan was quoted as saying Russia TodayTuesday (21/11/2023).

“They persecuted the Armenian people, took advantage of them, and made them feel insecure by fueling unrealistic dreams. Armenia now needs to see and accept this fact.”

“No arms and ammunition sent by Western countries can replace the peace that a permanent peace environment will bring,” Erdogan added, and urged Armenia to “accept the peace assistance provided by our brothers in Azerbaijan.”

Earlier this month, Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of the General Staff of Armenia, Lieutenant General Edvard Asryan, visited US European Command (EUCOM) Headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany.

The visit is a milestone as the US and Armenia seek to “deliberately and gradually develop our defense relationship,” EUCOM said in a statement afterwards.

Yerevan has also been in touch with Paris, striking a deal last month to buy new weapons systems from France. This prompted Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to declare that France would be responsible for any new conflict in the region.

Aliyev also withdrew from a peace summit hosted by the European Union in Grenada in early October. He accused the bloc of being hostile to Baku.

Moscow protested Armenia’s “hostile” actions and argued that it could not carry out any intervention in Nagorno-Karabakh, especially after Pashinyan himself explicitly and repeatedly recognized Azerbaijan’s sovereignty over the disputed territory.

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