Category: Asia and Pacific

The Best Way To Define Armenian Essence: Remnants Of Aghdam – VIDEO/PHOTOS

By Azer HASRET, @azerhasret

Even Karabakh Khans’ family cemetery is looted

Those days – in 1993 I was a student. I got back to my native village Dadali (Khachmaz) after the completion of the 1st year in the Baku State University. After spending summer months there I would come back to Baku and continue my education. I lived in students’ hostel in the 1st year and was sure, that coming back after summer holidays will continue to stay in my room…

Heydar Aliyev, who was invited by the then President Abulfaz Elchibey to Baku to rule the country, just was starting to make things accurate. But every move was too slow. Because it was impossible to act and make changes quickly. In one hand Armenia’s aggression, in another hand forced internal chaos were main obstacles even for this very experienced statesman to rule the country. But instead of this very tough situation he was trying to move the country out of these difficulties and direct to the path of development. The chaos was another chance for the enemy. That’s why Armenia was not calm, but intensifying its aggression to widen areas of occupation.

As a result several other districts around occupied Nagorno Karabakh were occupied by Armenia. On July 23, 1993 including Aghdam city itself the most part of this district was occupied as well.

I got back to Baku at the end of August, 1993. While reaching the city directly moved to the Baku State University’s hostel in order to get my room. While reaching the place approached the 4th level in the building and after few minutes I was in front of my room’s door. I tried to open the door. But couldn’t manage. Then stood a bit. While I was standing and thinking of opening the door, heard some voices from inside. Someone was approaching the door. Once I was thinking, the door opened. There was a young lady in front of me. I remember as today: her face was faded, but beautiful. Seemed sad. Was broken, but beautiful. Looked straight at me as dried up. Couldn’t manage to say a word. I stood as frozen. Then I looked at her in a moment and rolled away my eyes. Afterwards gathered my courage and could whisper: “madame, this is my room”. She understood what I did mean. And asked: “OK, have you lived in this room? I will bring your goods, I have collected them”. Then turned into the room, stepped inside. Bit a while got back with my suitcase. Saying “just please” handed it to me and again looked at me with her frozen views. This time I looked at her face as well. I dived deeply into her eyes and felt her sadness there. It was impossible not to feel that. I saw this and understood her. That’s why saying nothing took my suitcase and thanked her, stepped away…

The following years with no reason I always thought, that the lady was from Aghdam. There was no doubt that she was from Karabakh and an IDP. But why did I decide that she is from Aghdam? Up today I can’t understand this. She did not tell me where is she from, and I did not ask that…

Aghdam remembered to me with this memory as well. That Aghdam, which after 1993 remained under the occupation of Armenia for very long time. As remained under occupation its white roofs turned darker. Demolished, collapsed, burned down and was to be wiped off the earth. And once people of Azerbaijan, and the state itself came to the senses, made its spine straight and on November 20, 2020 Aghdam was freed from the occupation. Armenia was not able to stay in front of the power of Azerbaijani Army anymore. It had to step off from Aghdam as well.

Now Aghdam is free. It is under control of our state as other lands of Karabakh. We have already started rebuilding it. But this seems to be long lasting. Because the enemy has left thousands of sq km of mine paved lands. These lands need to be cleared of mines which will take a while. Aghdam is one of those lands.

…On March 13, 2021 with the order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and under the guidance of his aide Hikmat Hajiyev a group of civil society actors and journalists headed to Aghdam. It was exiting. What were we expected to see on the lands, which are liberated from the enemy’s occupation? We knew that those areas are totally destroyed. Even we had some estimates as well. But once again it was interesting what is waiting us there.

We arrived. We passed to the liberated part of Aghdam through the control point. Immediately we saw the turned upside down lands which was opposite of those that we left behind control point. These were the ruins of owl. Not only buildings, but the soil itself was upside down here. These views couldn’t not hurt our hearths. Occupant Army of Armenia had dug up every cm of the land here. Blinds, trenches, fortifications – everything was telling that the enemy was preparing to the great war. They made preparations to make our beautiful, productive lands a blood vessel once again. Seeing this I thought that it was indeed great that Azerbaijan managed to force Armenia to peace at the end and flee Aghdam with no war. If not due to those preparations warring sides could have huge losses. So we were right while relied on the strategic intellect of the Victorious Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev!

…Just ruins are present everywhere on the way to the city of Aghdam. There is no any saved building even for the sample. Not just saved one, even no any building with the roof on, or with the walls staying not touched. There are heartbreaking views everywhere around. Trees and grasses are grown inside the most houses. Right directly in the center of the rooms. But once upon one could hear happy smiles behind these walls. Now these wall remnants even do not remember human sense. It is obvious that for long years no human being has lived here. Even no one was preparing to live. Instantly one can feel that the occupants knew that one day they will be forced out of these lands. That’s why they managed to destroy everything. And they looted the whole city! They did everything in order to prevent people from living in these lands. But they failed to achieve this goal: Azerbaijan is enough powerful to rebuild these lands once more!

…A little ahead – in a short distance to the city of Aghdam our buses had stopped. We took off the buses. There were a lot of stones in piles. We thought, these are the remnants of the destroyed houses. But we were wrong. That was the 2nd Alley of Martyrs of Aghdam. Yes, dozens of years ago that was a last stop of the martyrs. The enemy with the hyena character had dug even graves, looted even bones of the dead people over there, and turned the surrounding area to the owl nest in line with his character. As the land was mined we couldn’t go closer to the place. Just could only take pictures and film the scene from a distance in order to show to the world…

After a while we entered the city of Aghdam. We have seen the liberated city on the TV channels. We knew about debris of the city. But could not imagine the scale quite enough. Now being on the area we felt the tragedy – the spirit of the war on ourselves…

It is impossible to describe everything one by one in details. Because there is nothing different from each other. All views look the same. There are destroyed buildings all around. There is no building having the roof on it. Just walls of some buildings are destroyed totally, of others in part. So this is what is left behind from the city which once had some 40-50 thousands inhabitants. And the grass, trees, which are grown inside the walls of the destroyed houses cause the strange feelings. While looking around one thinks that who lived inside these walls? Or those who lived 30 years ago here, what would feel if would be here right now?

Unfortunately we were not allowed to walk through the city freely. Because every point of the city is mined. That’s why we had to follow only the way which was shown. But instead of restricted movement we could see a lot which was quite enough to understand, film and show. We looked, saw, filmed in order to show to the entire world. To show in order, that those seeing these pictures could understand our pain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPX7BnJC2VI

Will they understand? We don’t know exactly. But we believe, that those who has a heart has to understand us. Otherwise it is impossible.

While Armenia has occupied the city in 1993 it suffered losses. But not so much as is present now. Now there is a city in front of eyes which is totally destroyed. It is annulled area. It is wiped off the surface. Even its cemeteries are looted. But once this was very beautiful city. This is the product of Armenian character. They do not only occupy, but after occupation the enemies implement an operation of destruction in order to wipe off the traces of history. To wipe off in order then to “prove” it, that those were “ancient Armenian lands”…

Thanks to our Army! If we would not support with tolerance Victorious Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev’s far-seeing and well thought policy, it would not be easy to liberate our lands. We could manage this as a nation! We could become an iron fist, unite behind the leader, lead a war against the enemy in line with the standards of the 21st century! Remnants of Aghdam are in our hands! Let’s be that! We will rebuild it! Siting the words of the President Ilham Aliyev, “We will revive you again, Aghdam!”

P.S. Armenians are trying to show us – Azerbaijanis, even all Turks around the world as a vandals, barbarian nation. They claim that we have destroyed their historical monuments. If someone wants to understand who really are vandals and barbarian, that person needs just to see the remnants of the city of Aghdam. That would be enough to understand. Then everyone would understand that Armenians, who accuse us in vandalism, in reality are pasting those characteristics to others, which belong to themselves.

Dadali, Khachmaz

Just only this one view is enough to understand what is done to Aghdam

A view of Aghdam Jooma Mosque

The roads of Aghdam…

In the far point: Remnants of Aghdam Drama Theatre

The looted cemetery – Alley of Martyrs

March 20, 2021
Taliban confirms it received no fundings from Russia

FILE – In this Nov. 30, 2017 file photo, American soldiers wait on the tarmac in Logar province, Afghanistan. The U.S. is pausing movement of troops into Afghanistan and quarantining 1,500 new arrivals to country due to virus. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul, File)

As the Western media continues to blame Russia’s policy in Afghanistan, a never-ending information war seems to take a new round aggravating the peace process in the country.

The leading U.S. media outlets claimed Russia was funding Taliban referring to the movement’s commanders. However, both the New York Times and Insider refused to name not only their sources but also American official spokesmen who reportedly said they had found out links between Taliban’s and Russia’s banking accounts. The outlets also claimed Russia’s financial support to Taliban was aimed at killing U.S. troops in Afghanistan, but no evidence and details have ever been provided.

The claims of the Western media seem even more baseless after the interview with Qatar-based Taliban’s official spokesperson Mohammad Sohail Shahin had been released.

Speaking to journalists covering the Russian policy in the Middle East, Shahin denied any funding from Russia. “This statement is proofless and has nothing to do with the truth. We believe such claims appear in the context of the internal political struggle in the United States and are organized by opponents of the Afghan peace process”, Mohammad Shahin said. “The main goal of these campaigns is to undermine the Afghan peace process”, he added.

In February, 2020, Washington signed a peace deal with Taliban confirming to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan. However, a year on, the agreement’s major clauses have not come to effect. Much due to internal confrontations between the U.S. establishment and the U.S. Conservative Party. With Biden Administration taking the power and its policy focused on international intervention, the process is likely to be delayed. Yet, procrastination of the peace process in Afghanistan may lead to irreversible and tragic consequences in an already war-torn country and cause a total halt of economic and industrial development.

Moreover, in a current situation of limited on-spot-covering due to the closed borders, independent and non-affiliated media are not able to provide an objective view of the peace process development in Afghanistan. And this is often turned into advantage by the Western mainstream media.

March 8, 2021
Terrorist attack on Russian diplomats in Afghanistan may lead to further tensions between Moscow and Kabul

Afganistan, Kabul. Photo: Daily Sabah

On December 1, the car of the Russian Embassy with several employees inside was hit by an improvised explosive device in Kabul. Russian diplomats received a slight concussion.

According to preliminary estimates, the terrorist attack most likely targeted a pickup truck of the Afghan national security forces with servicemen on board moving ahead of the diplomatic vehicle, however, the attack against Russian citizens cannot be excluded, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

“On December 1, while a Russian diplomatic mission’s car was driving along the road near the Russian embassy in Kabul, an improvised explosive device was detonated. The employees of the Russian diplomatic mission in the vehicle received a slight concussion”, Zakharova said.

The recent attack that affected the employees of the Russian diplomatic mission in Afghanistan might be aimed at setting contradictions in Russia’s cooperation with the inter-Afghan peace settlement countries, as well as excluding Moscow and it partners from it including the Moscow negotiation platform.

“We demand that the Afghan side conduct a thorough investigation of the incident and take comprehensive measures to ensure the security of personnel of Russian foreign missions in Afghanistan. The Russian Embassy in Kabul is implementing additional measures aimed at increasing the security of personnel and facilities of the diplomatic mission”,-Zakharova added.

As the rate of violence in Afghanistan continues to increase the authority of the Islamic republic in the international diplomatic community is undermining which may also affect the further position of the contributing countries. Only in recent weeks Kabul was hit by a number of terrorist attacks, with more than 50 people killed in two assaults on educational centres and a rocket attack.

December 27, 2020
Could a Third Way save Afghanistan?

As Afghanistan marks its 101^st Anniversary as an independent state, both the international community and the Afghan people themselves are concerned about the country’s future pathway.

Since the fall of the monarchy the political system in Afghanistan has suffered a few major crises. The establishment of the Jihadi regimes and anti-patriotic coup along with global colonialism have resulted into the country’s destruction and led to the rise of Taliban. Moreover, President Ghani’s predecessor Hamid Karzai has led the country to a corrupt state unable to deal with the terrorist groups and Taliban.

Invaded by various foreign-backed powers and different political ideas (left and right) Afghanistan has lost its national identity and failed to build its own economic and political system. Torn with corruption, bloodshed and terrorism over the decades, the country today, as some analysts believe, could be saved by a Third Way. The Third Way is a philosophy used to describe the voice of masses, the silent majority of people all the world, including Afghanistan.

The Afghan society needs a reform. The Third Way and adoption of it by a society can lead Afghanistan to a modern state, different from which the country has experienced over the pat 40 years. The Third Way is based on the idea of establishing a secure and sustainable state where the rights of the citizens are respected regardless the influence of any political parties or social groups and ethnic, racial and religious beliefs. Ensuring security and social justice in Afghanistan can be reached through following the several principles.

A balance of Power. Afghanistan has enough of security and defense to maintain and consolidate the national power. Supported by a strong and professional political leadership with pro-national interests Afghanistan will be able to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

A balance of domestic politics. The political and economic strategy of Afghanistan should be focused on creating sustainable living environment for its citizen and development of the economic and labor system that will allow Afghan citizens to use the country’s national resources and increase their living standards. In this scenario the Afghan people will stop looking for any possible ways to leave the country.

Balancing of economic growth and regional development will allow Afghan people to supply with jobs and comfortable life not only in major cities but also in the country’s provinces.

Finally, to achieve a Third Way the political system of the country should be based on national and democratic principles. The national principle means the country should use its own capacities and resources, while the democratic principle means that there is no other political regime acceptable in the country, but democracy.

By listening to the needs of the society and recovering its national values Afghanistan in the long-term perspective could become a safe and sovereign state with a sustainable economic growth.

August 22, 2020
USAID increases its presence in Central Asia amid the COVID-19 pandemic to foster its influence

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is increasing investments and support of the economy and social sphere in Uzbekistan through various economic, trade, healthcare and social projects. Only for the year of 2019 USAID invested over $10 million in Uzbekistan’s private sector for establishment of new orchards, installation of water saving technologies marketing, and branding to meet international standards. According to the Agency, USAID investment strategy in Uzbekistan involves large-scale and ambitious projects for the next 3-4 years that aim to increase the living standard in the country.

As part of its global campaign against the COVID-19 pandemic, the USAID in partnership with the Uzbekistan Ministry of Health has identified priority areas to provide support for the needs of Uzbekistan’s citizens, health professionals, and the government.

However, nurturing relations with the US may have a negative side effect for Uzbekistan. By tightening economic and political relations with Tashkent, the United States might take advantage of the Uzbekistan’s geopolitical location and its border with Afghanistan and start lobbying its interests in Kabul heating up complicated relations between the two countries.

Moreover, fostering the Washington’s idea to create a transparent economy in the country and the accountability of the Uzbek state to civil society may cause potential leaks of tax and financial information to the US tax authorities. Considering that the American side relies on the principle of the supremacy of the national law over the international law, this might trigger a threat to the economic security of Uzbekistan and create a ground for pressure on the Uzbekistan authorities by the United States.

Like in the case with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, a small country in the Central, could become a perfect potential target for the US so-called democratization policy. Positive social and economic changes integrated by the United States in Uzbekistan are building up a solid ground for lobbying Washington political ambitions in the country. History has already proved the United States could be unreliable business partners. The US-China trade relations scenario is a great example of it: when contradictions arose, the US changed their policy from building partnership into the policy of trade wars.

June 10, 2020
Euro banknote with the image of M.E. Rasulzade and Nuri Pasha

On Tuesday, in the Ataturk Center in Baku was hosted the presentation of a 0-euro euro banknote dedicated to the outstanding historical figures of Azerbaijan and Turkey – the founder of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) Mammad Emin Rasulzade, as well as the Ottoman army general, commander of the Caucasian Liberation Army Nuri Pasha .

Portraits of these two prominent figures are depicted on a bill made in the framework of the Euro Souvenir Bank project.

The ceremony was attended by the project’s initiator, Turkish collector Ozgur Honcha, Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Erkan Ozoral, public figures of Azerbaijan.

The presentation became the basis for discussing the problems of the formation of the modern Azerbaijani state, Turkish-Azerbaijani relations, perpetuating the memory of the leaders who founded the First Democratic Republic of 1918-1929 and laid the foundations of the Azerbaijani national idea.

“The issue of this banknote should be taken as a call to perpetuate the name of Rasulzade as the founder of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, and Nuri Pasha, as the military leader who liberated Azerbaijan from the Dashnak-Bolshevik terror and instilled the faith of Azerbaijanis in its future,” said MP Fazil Ganfaroglu.

Ozgur Honche, Serhat Jemil Kuchuk, who provided comprehensive support for the project, also played an important role in preventing the issuance of the Artsakh souvenir euro banknote, which was ordered by the Armenian separatists of Nagorno-Karabakh.

“All necessary diplomatic and legal steps have been taken to prevent this provocation against Azerbaijan. Our actions were correctly understood by Euro Souvenir Bank and the issue of banknotes was prevented, ”said Ozgur Honche.

One of the initiators of the presentation, Yagut Misirkhanli, announced that 10 thousand commemorative banknotes were issued. Souvenir banknotes with a face value of 0 euros are printed on the official machines of the European Central Bank and are registered as a trademark. A considerable part has already been transferred to statesmen and public figures in Azerbaijan, Turkey in European countries.

Translated by Turkishnews

January 23, 2020