Thilo Sarrazin's comments about Muslims have triggered outrage in Germany and abroad, but have met with willing listeners among the general public. His rhetoric is slowly bringing about change in Germany, transforming it from a tolerant society into one dominated by fear and Islamophobia.


The Pied Piper of Hamelin knew how to fight the plague. He knew catchy, seductive tunes and was successful against the scourge with his unconventional methods. But because society paid him no tribute and refused to pay him the wages he had been promised for his service, he decided to take a radical step and lure away the children of Hamelin. In doing so, he destroyed the very community he had once set out to save.

It is unclear when and why Dr. Thilo Sarrazin, 65, the child of a doctor and a Prussian landowner's daughter, who supposedly did a decent job during his time as finance minister for the city-state of Berlin and who had unusual ideas, became a seducer. Did he see himself as a future chancellor, and was he bitterly waiting in the wings to be nominated by his Social Democratic Party (SPD)? Would he have preferred to become the CEO of Deutsche Bank instead of "merely" a member of the executive board of Germany's central bank, the Bundesbank? Does he relish the role of agent provocateur and popular guest on German talk shows? And is he truly worried about the absurd concern that Germany is "doing away with itself" -- as the title of his new book claims -- by tolerating too many foreign influences in its society?

Opinions may differ among those who seek to interpret Sarrazin's behavior. The important thing is that he is someone who has gone from being a tough-talking, audacious politician and anarchic prankster (see quote gallery) to a racist anti-Muslim who makes up nonsense about the genetic basis of intelligence and the "German-Jewish origins of intelligence research." Those ideas have prompted him to voice his concerns over Germany's "cultural identity" and "national character," and to blame Muslim immigrants and their supposed non-culture for all the problems of integration -- ignoring the fact that both the immigrants and the host country have a responsibility.

Spiegel Online
Erich Follath
Translated from the German by Christopher Sultan

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'Turkey views the Karabakh conflict as its own problem and it will also be next to Azerbaijan in all these issues'. Chairman of the Turkish-Azerbaijani interparliamentary group of friendship Mustafa Kabakci has spoken on discussions of the resolution on Nagorno Karabakh in the UN Security Council.

'Turkey will support the resolution on Nagorno Karabakh in the UN Security Council and will do everything possible for the issue of occupation of Azerbaijani land to be brought to the attention of the world community', said chairman of the Turkish-Azerbaijani interparliamentary group of friendship Mustafa Kabakci.

'Turkey views the Karabakh conflict as its own problem and it will also be next to Azerbaijan in all these issues.

It is remarkable that the discussion of the Karabakh problem will be held in the period of Turkish chairmanship in the UN Security Council. We should do everything possible for the world to hear again about Armenia’s occupational policy, the sufferings of our Azerbaijani brothers and sisters who have been living far from their lands for already 20 years.

The world community should seriously condemn Armenian actions.

There are already four UN resolutions on the withdrawal from the occupied lands of Azerbaijan and it demonstratively does not fulfill it, I think the new resolution should especially single out this fact', he said.

1 news.az

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Turkey's involvement in a NATO disaster response exercise in Armenia does not mean that it is planning to open the border. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu commented on the exercises in an interview with an ANS TV correspondent.

“Many people are exaggerating this issue," Davutoglu said.

"There are no reasons for concern. First, these exercises are not military, they are just related to action to be taken during earthquakes. As far as I know, Azerbaijan is joining this too. Our participation is related to the organization of field hospitals and we take part in these events only because Turkey is a NATO member.

"As you know, we have sent field hospitals to Pakistan as humanitarian aid. We take part in this training on humanitarian grounds, while the issue of opening borders is not on the agenda or subject to discussion.”

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in protest at Armenia's role in the war over the Azerbaijani territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. The two countries agreed to open the border in protocols signed in October 2009, but the rapprochement stalled and Armenia suspended ratification of the protocols.

The Armenia-2010 joint exercise on tackling emergencies is to be held on 11-17 September. The field exercise, including a command post element, training and demonstration day, will be based on the fictitious scenario of a serious civil emergency in the town of Arzni in Armenia's Kotayk Province.

The exercise, organized by the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre, is part of NATO's Partnership for Peace initiative.

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The Russia-Armenia agreement (protocol) which extended the term of the Russian base in Gyumri until 2044, has given the task of defending Armenia to the Russian forces at this base and which has also allowed Armenia to obtain modern weaponry and special military equipment from Russia has created harsh reactions among opposition circles in Armenia. The main issue which is emphasized is that Armenia’s right of independence has deteriorated to a great extent, or has at least been damaged. Indeed, taking into consideration that Armenia’s energy transmission line, railways, nuclear power station, and various other facilities are in the hands of Russia and that Russia has invested about 2 billion dollars in this small country, with this protocol Armenia has also come somewhat under the guardianship of Russia in the area of defense.

The significant point here is that despite objections arising from opposition parties and various intellectuals, assuming that Russia is protecting the country again Turks and Azerbaijanis, a majority of Armenian public opinion easily accepts this situation.

Despite this, it could be seen that to begin with President Sarkisian and Foreign Minister Nalbandyan, officials of the Armenian Government do not want to dwell upon the protocol issue too much. Russian Foreign Minister Segey Lavrov has acted in the same way and has stated that the protocol has not actually changed anything and the obligations of the base in Gyumri have remained the same. President Medvedev has also refrained from entering into details and has described the protocol as part of the special alliance relations between Russia and Armenia. In a joint press conference with President Medvedev, President Sarkisian has settled with only stating that this protocol has extended the term of the military base and has expanded the sphere of Russia’s “geographical and strategic responsibilities”. Also, in the detailed joint declaration concerning Armenian-Russia talks, it has been expressed that “the sides also signed an intergovernmental protocol amending the agreement to the Russian military base in Armenia”.

The reason for Armenians and Russians to try to remain as silent as possible about the protocol which could create significant consequences in the future could be to restrict Azerbaijan’s possible reactions. Generally, these reactions were harsh in the Azeri media and among opposition groups. For instance, the leader of the Musavat (Equality) Party İsa Kamber has stated that Azerbaijan should take an initiative for NATO membership; well known analyst Vefa Guluzade has expressed that since Russia’s role as mediator has ended, the only solution is a military one, and the former advisor for Azerbaijani President Rasim Musabayov has said that Turkey could deploy its mobile forces in Ganja for the defense of the oil pipeline or could establish a military base in Nakhchivan.

Omer Engin LUTEM

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During President Medvedev’s visit to Armenia, an agreement which extended the term of the Russian military base in Gyumri and containing new obligations was signed on August 20.

With an agreement signed in 1995 following the Karabakh conflict, a Russian military base was established in the city of Gyumri in Armenia which is approximately 20 km. to Turkey. This agreement was to be valid for 25 years and would end in 2020. With ten years remaining until the agreement would expire, extending this term unexpectedly for another 24 years until 2044 created astonishment.

Without doubt, this shows that Russia is determined in maintaining their military presence in the Southern Caucasus and conveys a message to the US which attempts to have great dominance in this region by establishing close relations with Georgia for this purpose and which would have established the same relations with Azerbaijan if the Karabakh conflict had not existed. At the same time it also conveys a message to the European Union which tries to build relations with countries in this region through the European Neighborhood Policy Action Plan. This way, Russia has demonstrated that no political development or initiative could take place in this region without its own will and/or contribution.

Considering what benefit Armenia will gain from having a foreign military base in its country for a quarter of a century more, its relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan must be observed.

Armenia has a phobia towards Turkey and believes that Russia will protect them against Turkey. Since Turkey has not militarily intervened in any way during the Karabakh conflicts, this phobia is not substantial. On the other hand, after overcoming the existing difficulties, implementing the signed protocols and establishing normal relations between both countries as expected and hoped, what function could the Russian military base have for Turkey?

Omer Engin LUTEM

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