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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ASPARAGUS NEWS AGENCY -SYDNEY-

A GROUP OF SCIENTISTS WHO GATHERED BEFORE THE “DINOSAUR GENOCIDE MONUMENT” INAUGURATED TODAY IN SYDNEY RELEASED A PRESS STATEMENT SAYING “TURKS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXTINCTION OF DINOSAURS”. SIR GEORGE OETKER GAVE A STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE SCIENTISTS COLLECTIVE AND CLAIMED THAT THE DINOSAURS WHOSE HOMELAND WAS BELIVED TO BE PRESENT TURKEY REGION, WERE MASSACRED BY A GROUP KNOWN AS “NEANTURKHAL” WHO WERE IN FACT OF TURKISH ORIGIN. “WE DEMAND THAT TURKEY ACCEPTS IT’S CRIME AND PAYS COMPENSATION TO US SCIENTISTS DOING RESEARCH ON DINOSAURS WITH HEART AND SOUL” SAID G. OETKER AND REACTED TO PRESSMEN MOCKING HIM.

FOLLOWING THE PRESS STATEMENT, THE GROUP LAID A WREATH BEFORE THE TURKISH EMBASSY. THE POLICE DID NOT CARE TO INTERVENE AND THE GROUP DISPERSED WITHOUT INCIDENT.

Needless to say of course but I have to state that this is a product of humor as there are those who act upon such news published in various humor sites, taking them for real. Sometimes however, humour can be the most effective way to express certain things. We are living in a time when everyone accuses each other of committing genocide.

A C T U E L

Selim GURAY

selimguray@lactuel.be

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Many countries have their own strategic plans for their problems which they deem significant. While sometimes states explicitly represent these strategies, in some cases they choose not express and, even hide, them. In this context, the strategies of Armenia, with regard to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the normalization process with Turkey, is widely concerned. Are the remarks of Armenia about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and normalization process of relations between Turkey and Armenia the same as Armenia’s genuine intentions and strategies? Finding an answer requires a careful analysis and specification of strategies.

One can accept or deny it, but the current normalization process with Turkey and Armenia is interrelated with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Therefore, the solution should be pursued in parallel with the issue. Then, is the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict really a desired move? Before responding to this query, one should comprehend the strategy of Armenia with regard to the normalization process of relations with Turkey. For this, one should also comprehend the Armenian Hundred Year Plan which can be considered a superior strategy and a major project.

Sinan OGAN

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An exhibition titled “Don`t Forget Khojaly” has opened in Ankara, at Abdi Ipekci park.

The exhibition was organized by Igdir Society of Victims of Armenian Aggression. The exposition features books, CD and DVD-s, photographs and other material reflecting Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and bloody Khojaly massacre, committed by Armenians against innocent Azerbaijani people.

Outstanding Turkish politics, diplomats, Ankara residents and guests as well as state officials visited the exhibition. According to Geksel Gulbey, Chairman of the Igdir Society of Victims of Armenian Aggression, the exhibition will be presented also in Istanbul and Van.

AzerTAj

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Recently, there have been articles one after the other, especially on the foreign media, suggesting that the axis of the Turkish foreign policy has shifted and that Turkey now prefers the Middle East and the Arab world to the West and the EU.

Certain developments, such as the deterioration of the relations with Israel following Prime Minister Erdogan’s upbraid in Davos, the lower level chair crisis and the incidents of Mavi Marmara, the uranium exchange agreement signed with Iran along with Brazil and Turkey’s vote “against” the sanctions to be applied to Iran during the voting held by the UN, annulment of the visa regime with Syria, and TRT’s broadcasts in Arabic are the proof of Turkey’s inclination towards the Middle East, according to the “Axis” theoreticians.

In fact, Turkey’s axis did not shift ; however, there are efforts to give the impression that its axis has shifted. Actually, last year when Turkey signed a strategic partnership agreement with Kazakhstan, Western media had started questioning “whether Turkey was inclining towards the East”.

Turkey, which was one of the most important partners of NATO against the Soviets during Cold War era and which considered integration with the West as the most significant goal, has recognized that focusing only on the West is a deficiency parallel to the changing conjuncture and West’s “double standard” approach, a fact which, in turn, has created an obvious unrest.

In other words, efforts of Turkey to expand its vision and become a global actor rather than being a regional force which focuses on the West are interpreted in the West, consistent with the period, as “Turkey has turned its face towards the East” or “Turkey’s axis has shifted”. As a matter of fact, it is not something desirable for the present actors to see one more country, which is independent and which can express its own will, has influence in the international field. Thus, we can assess these interpretations also as “an expression of concerns”.

A C T U E L

Selim GURAY
selimguray@lactuel.be

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Armenia is facing a serious population problem in terms of not birth-death ratios but rather the country’s young population’s emigration tendency. In the recent months, the United Nations advised Armenian Government to develop socio-economic conditions and consolidate the rule of law, and announced that unless the warnings are taken into account, Armenia will encounter a more serious wave of emigration.

According to the news broadcast on Radio Freedom, since Armenian independence in 1991, around 700.000 Armenians have left country for employment purposes. The volume of the emigration can be realized from the fact that the money sent by the emigrants amounts nearly to %13 of the overall Armenian national revenues. Although this portion is apparently beneficial for the Armenian economy, the experts who want the Armenian Government to urgently address the situation state that the unemployment, corruption and anti-democratic practices increase desperation in Armenia.

While the precise figures are unknown, the number of those who go to Turkey for work cannot be underestimated. This situation indicates that unlike Diaspora Armenians, the socio-economic problems are prioritized by the Armenian citizens living in Armenia.

The most important step to overcome all these problems involves the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem and thereby, the normalization in Turkish-Armenian relations, however this step cannot be taken due to the circles that prioritize the historical conflicts and have ultra-nationalistic concerns.

If the current status quo is maintained, the realization of the below imaginary news should not amaze anybody.

A C T U E L

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