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Regional geopolitics

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  • Re: Regional geopolitics

    ANKARA LINKS WEAPON PURCHASES TO APRIL 24TH

    17:50, 17 February, 2015

    YEREVAN, 17 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. Turkey is artificially extending
    the announcement of results of the weapon purchase tender, saying
    it's due to the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Thus, Ankara
    is blackmailing the U.S., trying to engage the West in its dirty game.

    The Turkish authorities have declared that, taking into consideration
    the attitude of the U.S. and European countries to the events
    dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, only
    after April 24th will the official Ankara make a decision on the
    several billion-dollar transaction by which Turkey will obtain
    zenith-missile complexes for its anti-aircraft defense system, as
    the Turkish Hurriyet reports, according to "Armenpress".

    A high-ranking Turkish diplomat has also assured that the Turkish
    government also wants to see the U.S. and French position on the
    Armenian Genocide and that only after that will Turkey seal deals.

    Turkey announced a tender for the construction of anti-zenith systems
    in 2009. The Chinese CPMIEC won the tender in 2013, after which the
    Turkish government started being pressured by its Western allies.

    Afterwards, Turkey started negotiating with Western organizations. It
    is mentioned that the American Raytheon & Lockheed Martin Consortium
    and the European Eurosam Concern are the contenders.

    Turkey is artificially extending the announcement of results of the weapon purchase tender, saying it’s due to the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide....
    Hayastan or Bust.

    Comment


    • Re: Regional geopolitics

      Originally posted by londontsi View Post
      Absolutely agree.



      From day one the Turks put a number of preconditions.

      I will mention one.

      Turks insisted Karabagh should be solved in favour of Azerbaijan.

      Anybody who understands Politics and Turks ( and shame on us if we do not understand ),
      should have known Turks would not change their mind, because they would look weak.

      It was nothing about sincerity but our failure to see and understand politics, specially dealing with Turks.

      If you do not agree with me, mention one country who has said Armenians were sincere, nobody because politics is not about sincerety but results.

      PS. Just for the record Victoria Nuland has stated yesterday in Baku that the Azeri saboteurs/ murderer caught in Karabagh should be freed.

      .







      LOL LOL LOL

      These bastards are taking us for a walk ...... in all sincerity ........
      Politics is not about the pursuit of morality nor what's right or wrong
      Its about self interest at personal and national level often at odds with the above.
      Great politicians pursue the National interest and small politicians personal interests

      Comment


      • Re: Regional geopolitics

        "LOL LOL LOL

        These bastards are taking us for a walk ...... in all sincerity ........ "

        Yes! That is the definition of politics.
        Hayastan or Bust.

        Comment


        • Re: Regional geopolitics

          NULAND: ARMENIA SHOULD RETURN AZERBAIJANI PRISONERS

          Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
          Feb 17 2015

          17 February 2015 - 2:58pm

          Azerbaijani prisoners Dilgam Askerov and Shahbaz Guliyev, held by
          Armenia, should be returned, the US Assistant Secretary of State
          for European and Eurasian Affairs, Victoria Nuland, said at a press
          conference in Baku today.

          She said this should be done as a humanitarian gesture. "I will make
          that point as well in Yerevan tomorrow," Trend cited Nuland as saying.

          Nuland also voiced US concern over the escalation of violence on
          the contact line between Armenian and Azerbaijani troops. "We want
          to see an end to violence, we want the parties to come back to the
          negotiating table. We want to support this process," she stressed.
          ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

          I say we return these prisoners only if the Azeris can bring back to life all of the Armenian prisoners they have killed in captivity and trade them for these two murderers. USA foreign policy is looking more and more like some kind of a bad joke.
          Hayastan or Bust.

          Comment


          • Re: Regional geopolitics

            Հայաստանը «կողպեք» է ԱՄՆ նոր ռազմավարության մեջ

            ԻԳՈՐ ՄՈՒՐԱԴՅԱՆ, Քաղաքագետ
            Մեկնաբանություն - 18 Փետրվարի 2015,


            Ներկայում, երբ ԱՄՆ-ն ծավալել է իր նոր ռազմավարությունը, հետաքրքրություն է ներկայացնում վերջին շրջանում եւ սպասվող հեռանկարում Հայաստանի հանդեպ ԱՄՆ քաղաքականության վերլուծությունը:

            Ջորջ Բուշի վարչակազմի քաղաքականությունը, որն արտահայտում էր հանրապետականների եւ այսպես կոչված նոր պահպանողականության որոշակի առաջնահերթությունները, բարենպաստ պայմաններ է ստեղծել Հայաստանի զարգացման ու անվտանգության համար, նոր հնարավորություններ է բացել տարածաշրջանում եւ արտաքին քաղաքական ավանդական գործընկերների հետ հարաբերություններում Հայաստանի քաղաքական դիրքերի ուժեղացման համար:

            Հանրապետական վարչակազմի իշխանության շարունակությունը կարող էր Թուրքիայի համար ավարտվել առավել մեծ տհաճություններով, իսկ Հայաստանի համար շարունակվեր քիչ թե շատ հանգիստ ժամանակաշրջանը ղարաբաղյան կարգավորման մասով:

            Օբամայի իշխանության գալը Հայաստանում եւ ԱՄՆ հայկական շրջանակներում ընդունվեց որպես Հարավային Կովկասում գործընթացների ակտիվացման սպառնալիք, նախեւառաջ՝ ղարաբաղյան գործընթացի:

            Այդ մտահոգությունները հիմնավոր էին, առավել եւս, որ Օբաման, ինչպես եւ Հ.Քլինթոնը, նախընտրական շրջանում բազմիցս խոստացել էր ճանաչել ցեղասպանությունը, ինչը դիտարկվում էր որպես ղարաբաղյան գործընթացի ծավալման պայման, այսինքն՝ «ցեղասպանություն Ղարաբաղի դիմաց», եւ խնդիրը չէր լուծվում հօգուտ Հայաստանի:

            Բարեբախտաբար դա տեղի չունեցավ, եւ խնդիրը ցեղասպանության ճանաչումը չէ, այլ այն, որ Օբամայի օրոք ԱՄՆ տարածաշրջանային քաղաքականության ոճը քիչ ինչ այլ էր, քան Քլինթոնի օրոք: Ներկայում պարզվում է, որ ԱՄՆ-ն չի ձգտում միջամտել լոկալ հակամարտություններին, որոնք անմիջականորեն չեն սպառնում ԱՄՆ շահերին: Այսինքն, Օբամայի քաղաքականությունը շատ բանով նման է Բուշի քաղաքականությանը:

            Նախկինում Ռուսաստանը կարծես թե ըմբռնումով էր մոտենում Հարավային Կովկասի պետությունների հանդեպ ԱՄՆ քաղաքականությունը «հավասարակշռելու» Հայաստանի ձգտումներին: Սակայն ՆԱՏՕ-ի հետ Հայաստանի մերձեցումը բավական մտահոգել է Ռուսաստանին, որը գերադասեց արագացնել Հայաստանի վասալացման քաղաքականությունը:

            Թուրքիան մտահոգվել է հայ-ամերիկյան մերձեցման հեռանկարից, քանի որ այդ մերձեցումն ուներ միայն մեկ հիմնավորում՝ ԱՄՆ քաղաքականությունը Թուրքիայի արտաքին քաղաքական հավակնությունները զսպելու հարցում:

            Հայաստանի ու ԱՄՆ-ի հարաբերություններում շատ բան ձեռնտու էր Իրանին: Թեեւ հայ-իրանական հարաբերությունը նյարդայնացնում էր ամերիկացիներին, այնուամենայնիվ նրանք հասկանում էին, որ Հայաստանի գործոնն այս կամ այն ձեւաչափով հնարավոր է օգտագործել միայն Հայաստանի ու Իրանի համագործակցության պայմանով:

            ԱՄՆ-ն չէր կարող եւ չէր պատրաստվում Հայաստանի համար «օդային կամուրջ» ձեւավորել տրանսպորտային լիակատար շրջափակման դեպքում, եւ Հայաստան-Իրան համագործակցությունը դիտարկում էր որպես Հայաստանի ուժեղացման գործոն:

            Այդպիսով, Հայաստան-Իրան-ԱՄՆ հարաբերություններում «համագործակցությունը» երկար ժամանակ տեղի էր ունենում «լռությամբ», այն հաշվարկով, որ Թուրքիան թշնամական է դառնում ԱՄՆ-ի համար: ԱՄՆ-ն Իրանը համարել է հնարավոր եւ հավանական գործընկեր, եւ ոչ միայն «թուրքական գործոնի» պատճառով:

            Ուկրաինայի իրադարձությունները արագացրել են քաղաքական ու տնտեսական գործընթացներն աշխարհում, Օբամայի «մեծ դադարի» ժամանակաշրջանն ավարտվել է, եւ ամերիկյան վարչակազմը ձեռնամուխ է եղել Արեւելյան Եվրոպայում ու Մերձավոր Արեւելքում նոր քաղաքականության ձեւավորմանը:

            Ռուսաստանի ցանկացած քայլ հանգեցնում է ԱՄՆ-ի ու ՆԱՏՕ-ի հակազդեցությանը, եւ դա ներկայում արդեն դարձել է Ռուսաստանի միջազգային շրջափակման ուժեղացման փաստարկ ու պատճառ: Սակայն միայն Ռուսաստանը չէ հարցը: ԱՄՆ-ն ներկայում Թուրքիան դիտարկում է որպես անվստահելի գործընկեր, իսկ ավելի ճիշտ՝ հակառակորդի նոր տեսակ:

            Գավառական հանրությունը, որի շարքին է անկասկած դասվում հայ հանրությունը, հակված է իներցիայի եւ վաղուց սպառված կարծրատիպերի: Հայերի համար Արեւմուտքը մնում է անհասկանալի եւ նույնիսկ վտանգավոր, եւ հայերը ձգտում են Արեւմուտքի հետ պահել միայն նրբանկատ, սահմանափակ հարաբերություններ:

            Միայն հայկական զինվորական շրջանակներն են, որոնք պատասխանատու են երկրի անվտանգության համար, հասկանում, որ անվտանգության գլոբալ համակարգից դուրս լինելու դեպքում անհնար է կառուցել ազգային պաշտպանության ու անվտանգության համակարգը:

            Հայաստանին, որը գտնվում է նման բարդ վիճակում, անհրաժեշտ է արմատապես փոխել հասարակական կարծիքը, մտածողության եւ քաղաքական մշակումների միջոցներն ու առաջնահերթությունները:

            Վաղ թե ուշ հարկ կլինի հասկանալ եւ ընդունել հեռանկարը՝ հետագա 20-30 տարիների համար. ԱՄՆ-ն Թուրքիային ու Ռուսաստանին համարում է նույն բլոկի տարբեր ոճեր, որը փորձում է դիմակայել ԱՄՆ-ին ու ՆԱՏՕ-ին: Այս իրավիճակում Հայաստանը խաղում է բացառապես աշխարհքաղաքական դեր, նոր աշխարհքաղաքականության մեջ:

            Հայաստանն ԱՄՆ-ի ցանկացած ռազմավարության մեջ ահռելի ու բարդ կառուցվածքի «կողպեք» է: Դա չհասկանալը նշանակում է կորցնել ազգային պատմության հերթական չօգտագործած հնարավորությունը:

            - See more at: http://www.lragir.am/index/arm/0/com....Twg6k0kD.dpuf

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            • Re: Regional geopolitics

              During the trial of the Islamic State (IS) militants who attacked Turkish security forces at Nigde last year, court files revealed that Turkey, beyond supplying opposition forces ...



              Phone records reveal Turkey involvement in Kessab
              19.02.15


              Media reports based on eyewitness and opposition sources saying that Turkey has become a party to the civil war in Syria have found their way into court proceedings, Asbaresz reports.

              During the trial of the Islamic State (IS) militants who attacked Turkish security forces at Nigde last year, court files revealed that Turkey, beyond supplying opposition forces with weapons and ammunition, had also given artillery support to the opposition groups that captured Kessab. The prosecutor obtained striking admissions by tapping the defendants’ phones. According to documents obtained by Ahmet Sik of Cumhuriyet, the wiretapping transcripts reveal that the opposition forces at Kessab informed people in Turkey of the coordinates of Syrian army positions around Kessab, after which Turkish forces shelled those locations.

              On March 21, armed Syrian opposition groups entered Turkey from five different crossings and re-entered Syria at the Yayladag border crossing and captured Kessab.

              In addition to armed Turkmen groups, al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra, the Islamic Front’s most prominent group Ahrar al-Sham, IS-affiliated Shukur el-Izz, Sham el Islam (established by former Guantanamo prisoner Moroccan Ibrahim Binshekrun) and Ansar al-Islam, which has links both to al-Qaeda and IS, took part in the operation to capture Kessab. As clashes continued around Kessab on March 23, a Syrian warplane was shot down by a missile fired from Turkey for violating Turkish airspace. In June 2014, when President Bashar al-Assad’s army recaptured Kessab, including the high ground known as Feature 45, the Turkish army fired on the Syrian side. The Turkish government and military persistently said all firing on Syria after the changed rules of engagement following the shooting down of the Turkish jet were in retaliation for border violations on the Turkish side. The Turkish Foreign Ministry rejected the accusation, saying, “All claims that Turkey has been supporting the opposition forces by allowing them to use Turkish territory or in any other way are totally baseless.”

              Comment


              • Re: Regional geopolitics

                Use of Smerch in Ukraina, Kramatorsk Military Airport targeted, some civilians registered the bombing from town next
                In my knowledge, this is one of the first registered use of this type of MLRS, anywhere on the globe.
                The use of the same system was also reported in Syria:
                Translations:English (UK) Newly acquired images finally reveal the presence of the infamous BM-30 ‘Smerch’ multiple rocket launcher (MRL) in Syria. While their 300mm 9M55K rockets were documented to have been used in Kfar Zita and al-Tah North of Hama, images of the launchers were yet to be seen. The reason for the long wait has […]


                We must prepare to taste this same dish, since Baku has acquired the same systems ....





                Same event in a Ukrainian propaganda film:

                Last edited by Vrej1915; 02-19-2015, 07:39 PM.

                Comment


                • Re: Regional geopolitics

                  An other Armenian Esh Nahadag in Ukraina war.

                  Albert SARUKHANYAN Kevorki, apparently was captured with 12 other Ukrainian soldiers as POW, then executed in cold blood by the men of Vostok regiment led by a commander named Dushman, a chechen?





                  Apparently this man was drafted ??
                  None the less, it seems too many Armenians are grabbed this useless fight, and ending as Esh Nahadags on both sides...
                  At least all must be done, so no one goes there from Armenia, or NKR...
                  Anyone loosing his life on a foreign land, specially as a volontar is TRAITOR.


                  "
                  Names of the four soldiers who died are:
                  Albert Sarukhonyan Georgiyevich, Krivoy Rog
                  Sergey Slesarenko Stanislavovich, Dneprodzerzhinsk
                  Roman Svekh Nikolayevich, s.Pokrovka, Krivorozhskiy rayon
                  Andrey Kolesnik Vladimirovich, s.Chumaki, Krivorozhskiy rayon
                  "

                  Comment


                  • Re: Regional geopolitics

                    Iran Seeking Role In Selling Gas To Europe
                    Iranian officials have been signaling to potential customers in Europe, potential suppliers in the Caspian Basin, and transit country Turkey that Iran is not merely ready to get into the game, but perhaps even essential to it.

                    February 22, 2015

                    Russia, beware, Iran is trying to get into the European gas market.

                    In recent months, Iranian officials have been signaling to potential customers in Europe, potential suppliers in the Caspian Basin, and transit country Turkey that Iran is not only ready to get into the game but that without Iranian participation the European Union's Southern Gas Corridor will take many years to realize, or might never be realized.

                    Of course, the Southern Gas Corridor is all about decreasing Russian gas exports to Europe, an increasingly important issue for European governments as ties with the Kremlin continue to deteriorate over events in Ukraine.

                    A quick look at a map shows why Iran, with the second-largest gas reserves in the world, is well-placed to sell gas to Europe and also link gas-rich countries in the Caspian Basin region to Europe.

                    International sanctions imposed on Iran over that country's opaque nuclear program have constricted Iran's ability to sell its gas and oil on world markets or to participate in multinational pipeline projects.

                    The latest round of talks between Iran and the world powers (UN permanent Security Council members Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States, plus Germany) seem to have already convinced Tehran that the time is approaching when sanctions will ease sufficiently and Iranian gas and oil will be available to world markets.

                    But that will be a complicated process, and there are already some who feel Tehran is overestimating its potential.

                    Iran has been dropping hints about its readiness to enter the EU's planned gas corridor for many months. But in August Tehran sent a message straight to the heart of Europe when a top official spoke of resurrecting the Nabucco gas-pipeline project: Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Ali Majedi announced that his country was ready to supply gas to Europe through Nabucco.

                    The Nabucco project was shelved after Azerbaijan chose in June 2013 to ship its gas via the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). Nabucco was aimed at bringing some 31 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas to Baumgarten, Austria, (and was included as part of the Southern Gas Corridor) but faced problems convincing potential suppliers to sign contracts.

                    Majedi stated that Iran was prepared to sign on as a supplier and added that "two visiting European delegations" had discussed potential routes to bring Iranian gas to Europe. He claimed the country that was closest to signing a deal with Nabucco -- that is, Azerbaijan -- has insufficient reserves of gas to fill the pipeline.

                    Reporting on Majedi’s comments, Iran's IRNA news agency said, "Azeri offshore Caspian Shah Deniz II production...is estimated at not more than 8 bcm per year.* Therefore, even if Azerbaijan's gas ends up supplying the Nabucco gas pipeline, there would still be a deficit of 23 bcm of gas per year for the pipeline."

                    Iranian President Hassan Rohani brought the offer up in a meeting with Austrian counterpart Heinz Fischer in September on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Rohani told Fischer that "the Islamic Republic can be a reliable supplier of energy for Europe" and mentioned the Nabucco pipeline.

                    Rohani knew his audience, since the multibillion-dollar Nabucco project was spearheaded by Austria's OMV.

                    At the start of February, Azizullah Ramazani, the director of National Iranian Gas Company's department for international relations, said European countries would not import Iranian gas for "political reasons."

                    So he offered something different.

                    "Our proposal -- is getting Turkmen and Azeri gas to Iran, and then its transit to Europe via Turkey, because this route is the most economical way to transfer gas to Europe," Ramazani explained. And he specifically mentioned the rival route -- the Trans-Caspian pipeline project -- as being "expensive and impractical."

                    The Trans-Caspian gas pipeline idea dates back to the mid-1990s and foresees shipping Turkmen gas via an underwater pipeline across the Caspian seabed to Azerbaijan, where it would be loaded into pipelines headed further west. The project has been opposed by fellow Caspian littoral states Russia...and, notably, Iran.

                    Turkey is the key country for bringing Azerbaijani, Iranian, or Turkmen gas to Europe. Azerbaijan and Turkey are working to construct the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP). Once finished, TANAP would carry some 16 bcm, of which 6 bcm would go to Turkey and 10 bcm to TAP.

                    The original Nabucco project also envisaged a pipeline running from the Georgian and/or Iranian border, through Turkey and into Europe.

                    Iran already has a pipeline to Turkey that supplies some 10 bcm annually.

                    Of course, for the Southern Gas Corridor to seriously affect Europe's Russian gas imports would require the construction of multiple pipelines from the Caspian Basin and Iran.

                    Russia supplied Europe with some 155 bcm of gas in 2014. (Remember, TAP is only bringing 10 bcm.)

                    Iran, according to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy June 2014, has some 33.8 trillion cubic meters, while Turkmenistan has the world's fourth-largest reserves with some 17.5 trillion cubic meters.

                    According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Russia has the world's largest gas reserves with some 48.7 trillion cubic meters (tcm), though the BP report puts it far lower at 31.3 tcm. In either case, Iran and Turkmenistan together have more gas than Russia. Azerbaijan has 1 tcm also.

                    But Tehran and Moscow have been allies lately. Iran selling its gas, or allowing transit of Azeri and Turkmen gas to Europe, certainly hurts Gazprom's sales and, by extension, the Russian state budget. So Iran risks its good relations with Russia if it goes ahead with plans for gas exports to Europe.

                    There are also questions about Iran's infrastructure. The director of the Azerbaijan Center for Oil Studies, Ilham Shaban, wrote in early February that "there is not any existing infrastructure inside Iran that would allow the transfer of Turkmen gas to Turkey’s borders." Shaban noted that Iran was building gas pipelines leading from the south to the north of the country but said that "there is not a pipeline to connect Iran's north-east (Turkmenistan) to north-west (Turkey)," and concluded, "It appears given the current situation, Iran is not in any near-term position to route Caspian gas towards Europe."

                    *Shah Deniz 1 produces some 9 bcm annually and the Shah Deniz 2 project aims to boost production by some 16 bcm

                    -- Bruce Pannier

                    Comment


                    • Re: Regional geopolitics

                      Lukashenka Says Belarus Ready For Dialogue With NATO

                      February 19, 2015

                      Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka says his country is ready for a "constructive dialogue" with NATO.

                      Speaking to top Belarusian military officials in Minsk on February 19, Lukashenka said: "As a sovereign state we are open, in particular, to constructive dialogue with NATO on parity and transparency principles."

                      He added that "we have a lot of common issues [with NATO]; joint work on which fully meets Belarus’s interests."

                      Lukashenka -- who has ruled for 21 years and been called the last dictator of Europe -- said the fighting in Ukraine has shown that Belarus must have an army capable of protecting "its national interests."

                      "If need be, we have to be able to defend the independence and sovereignty of our country," he said.

                      Lukashenka added that additional finances will be allocated for the ongoing systemic renovation of arms in Belarusian armed forces which is scheduled to be accomplished by 2020.

                      Based on reporting by BelTA and Interfax

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