If There Is No Strong International Response to Turkey's Actions, the Region Could Turn into a Syrian Nightmare

The President of the Republic has given an interview to the Kuwaiti Arabic-language newspaper "Al-Jarida."

Question: Given the regional tensions, are you not afraid that the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh will create a new "Syria"?

Answer: Yes, I am afraid, because if there is no strong international response to Turkey's premeditated and illegal actions in the region, it could turn into a Syrian nightmare. Everyone will suffer from this, both within the region and beyond. Therefore, if Turkey is not forced to stop its direct intervention in military offensive operations, the conflict between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan could spiral out of control. We must not allow Turkey and Azerbaijan to escalate and complicate the situation further, creating a scenario that could ultimately transform the Caucasus into another Syria.

Turkey constantly recruits and sends mercenaries and jihadist Islamist terrorists to fight against the civilian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, or as we refer to it, the Republic of Artsakh. Various countries need to intervene and exert strong and clear pressure on Turkey to cease its involvement in the region. If Turkey stays away, we will have the opportunity for an effective ceasefire and negotiations, as well as the possibility of returning to the negotiating table.

Turkey's involvement, along with Azerbaijani aggression that did not cease even during the humanitarian ceasefire declared on October 10, is perceived not only by the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia but by all Armenians and friends of Armenians worldwide, as Turkey wanting to replicate what happened 105 years ago: the ethnic cleansing of Armenians from their homeland with the aim of committing another genocide. We, Armenians in Armenia, Artsakh, and the Diaspora, will never allow another genocide to take place. Never again.

Question: Azerbaijani authorities claim that Armenian volunteers, particularly from Syria and Lebanon, are joining the fighting. Is this true? Do you fear that this could escalate the religious dimensions of the conflict?

Answer: After the Armenian Genocide carried out by the Ottoman Empire, which has never been recognized by modern Turkey, Armenians scattered throughout the world and became proud citizens of countries such as the USA, Russia, France, Iran, Argentina, Lebanon, Australia, Syria, Georgia, Singapore, Poland, and others. They effectively integrated into the societies of these countries they now call home, contributing to their economies, politics, culture, sports, science, technology, education, and other fields. When there is an existential threat, Armenians around the world mobilize, even coming back to their homeland to help their brothers and sisters on the ground. Azerbaijan and Turkey, not Armenia, should be held accountable for bringing mercenaries and fanatical jihadists into our region and thereby complicating the process of achieving peace. The civilized world must stop this trend. The existence of mercenaries in the 21st century, who are paid to kill civilians or create humanitarian disasters, is unacceptable.

Regarding the religious factor, Armenians have never shown animosity or intolerance towards other religions. In the context of this conflict, the religious factor has been completely absent from the very beginning. Armenia and Armenians have complete respect for all religions and beliefs, and throughout our thousands of years of history, we have demonstrated our commitment to human values, including tolerance and respect for other religions, cultures, and races. I do not know any Armenian who harbors hatred towards representatives of other religions. We adopted Christianity in 301 AD, being the first country in the world to do so officially. Over two millennia, the Armenian people have endured wars, conflicts, dislocations, and even genocide, yet have never become religiously blind fanatics, as we see among the fighters on the Azerbaijani side. However, you will always find people who wish to incite hatred and provoke new tensions, and they will say that there is a religious factor, which is absurd.