Hezbollah

[Federate]

Re: Hezbollah

How is Hezbollah's relations with the Turks?

Historically has been cold due to years of Turkish support of Israel plus the heavy Armenian lobby in Lebanon and Nasrallah's good relations with Armenians. However, the Flotilla incident of last year has warmed relations to a certain extent with Nasrallah praising Erdogan's tough stance, though such feeling was found even more in the Sunni parts of Lebanon such as Tripoli.

[Mos]

Re: Hezbollah

Let's be honest here. If Hezbollah had a choice would they support Turks or Armenians, given today's political situation? Given they utilise religion, would they see past the religious difference, or just support the "Muslim side"?

[KanadaHye]

Re: Hezbollah

Let's be honest here. If Hezbollah had a choice would they support Turks or Armenians, given today's political situation? Given they utilise religion, would they see past the religious difference, or just support the "Muslim side"?

Prior to the Young Turks taking power, a lot of these parts of the Ottoman Empire were led by Armenian leaders. There is no "Muslim side" when it comes to real politics, it's about who has more friends in higher places.

[Mos]

Re: Hezbollah

Prior to the Young Turks taking power, a lot of these parts of the Ottoman Empire were led by Armenian leaders. There is no "Muslim side" when it comes to real politics, it's about who has more friends in higher places.

But organisations driven by strict ideology can't always afford to go against their ideology which has made them powerful, in order to full fill "realpolitik". The reason I'm asking is that my way of assessing if we should do meaningful friendship with a group or not is heavily based on their historical and current relations with the Turks. For example, in this manner, we can be very close friends with the Cypriots (and we are).

[HayotzAmrotz]

Re: Hezbollah

Let's be honest here. If Hezbollah had a choice would they support Turks or Armenians, given today's political situation? Given they utilise religion, would they see past the religious difference, or just support the "Muslim side"?

Hizballah takes its cue exclusively from Iran, it will not support Turks because Armenia's strategic partnership with Iran is of extreme importance to both of our countries, at this stage anyway.

[KanadaHye]

Re: Hezbollah

Hizballah takes its cue exclusively from Iran, it will not support Turks because Armenia's strategic partnership with Iran is of extreme importance to both of our countries, at this stage anyway.

Turks are sitting on Byzantine land so I'd have to say Iran has the upper hand in the region and its the Turks that are on rented property.

[Federate]

Re: Hezbollah

Hizballah takes its cue exclusively from Iran, it will not support Turks because Armenia's strategic partnership with Iran is of extreme importance to both of our countries, at this stage anyway.

Good point.

As for Hezbollah's ideology, if you mean "Islamism" then you might be surprised to know that Hizb has published a new manifesto where it drops much Islamist rhetoric. http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/...5AT3VK20091130

[KanadaHye]

Re: Hezbollah

Good point.

As for Hezbollah's ideology, if you mean "Islamism" then you might be surprised to know that Hizb has published a new manifesto where it drops much Islamist rhetoric. http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/...5AT3VK20091130

""Our problem with them (the Israelis) is not that they are J3ws, but that they are occupiers who are raping our land and holy places," Nasrallah said."

Can't argue with that.

[Mos]

Re: Hezbollah

Well, the Palestinian/Israeli issues are not really in our realm of concern, and we shouldn't get involved, and continue the policy that we have now. Maybe there are some Beirutsi hyes that supported/support Hezbollah because of Realpolitik, but Armenia really doesn't it care I would say when it comes to such groups.

[Armanen]

Re: Hezbollah

Well, the Palestinian/Israeli issues are not really in our realm of concern, and we shouldn't get involved, and continue the policy that we have now. Maybe there are some Beirutsi hyes that supported/support Hezbollah because of Realpolitik, but Armenia really doesn't it care I would say when it comes to such groups.

No reason Armenia can't maintain good relations with both sides, for example this is the Russian policy. Plus, israel meddles in Armenian affairs with their relations with baku. And since those relations are heavily based on military sales, it is in Armenia's interests to keep tabs on issues that are of utmost importance to the israelis, and maybe sometimes support actions which are against their interests in order to remind them we too can meddle.