Ragıp Zarakolu: What happened in Nagorno-Karabakh was the continuation of the genocidal policy

With its pan-Turkic and Islamist policy, Turkey stood by Azerbaijan and carried out ethnic cleansing in Karabakh, Ragıp Zarakolu, Turkish publisher and human rights activist, told Alpha News.

“Unfortunately, Turkey played the worst role in the Karabakh war and repeated its previous mistakes. With its pan-Turkic and Islamist policy, Turkey stood by Azerbaijan and carried out ethnic cleansing in Karabakh. We are glad that people did not lose their lives, but still, it was ethnic cleansing. The people of Nagorno-Karabakh were cut off from their homeland, where they lived for thousands of years. It happened the same way as in Western Armenia. Another painful circumstance is Azerbaijan-Israel relations. The issue of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh is no less sensitive than that of the Holocaust survivors, and it must be said directly that Israel assisted in what happened,” Zarakolu said ruefully.

According to him, what happened in Nagorno-Karabakh was the continuation of the genocidal policy, but today it is already Armenia that is under threat.
“This should seriously concern the international community. Armenia should not be left alone with indifference and forced to make decisions in such circumstances. Of course, Pashinyan’s situation is not something to be envied either, we know what despair can do.

This is not only Armenia’s issue. There are a large number of Armenians in all corners of the world who come from Western Armenia. They will continue their demands—their just demands. And that would be fair. Being cornered, Pashinyan may try to make some concessions, but it is not just about Pashinyan. There is also the Armenian diaspora. What can Turkey give to the Armenian diaspora, what can Turkey do against the Armenian diaspora,” Zarakolu said.

He noted that Armenia should not be cut off from Iran.

“At this moment, it is important that Armenia is not cut off from Iran, for Armenia not to be isolated. By demanding that corridor, Erdogan’s government is proving its pan-Turkic nature. For Armenia, that corridor is a threat because, at the moment, Armenia’s only reliable partner is Iran, if we take into account that Georgia is also under Turkish influence,” he said.

Ragıp Zarakolu also noted that the topic of the Armenian Genocide is not taboo in Turkey today, and the intellectuals accept that the genocide actually took place.