Leaders around the world have been pandering to Recep Tayyip Erdogan for years, trying to win him over to their side. They flattered the Turkish president so much that the lavish compliments went to his head. As the self-appointed Grand Sultan of the neo-Ottoman Empire, Erdogan started meddling in the internal affairs of neighboring countries, and jailing scores of his own citizens who dared to point out that the Sultan is naked!
The first leader to be duped by Erdogan was Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, whose ill-considered honeymoon with Turkey turned into an endless nightmare, devastating his country. The next head of state to part ways with the Turkish dictator was President Al-Sisi of Egypt. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has still not fully learned his lesson, carrying on a baffling love-hate relationship with Turkey. Erdogan almost succeeded even in tricking Armenia’s leaders with the deceptive Armenia-Turkey protocols. Ironically, Armenia’s interests were saved by none other than Erdogan’s junior partner, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, who killed the deal with his persistent self-serving objections.
The latest world leader to discover Erdogan’s fiendish nature is Vladimir Putin, after losing a military jet and two Russian airmen to a Turkish attack under the guise that the plane had crossed Turkey’s airspace for 17 seconds!
Within days of this tragic incident, the Russian government took several retaliatory measures that will have a devastating effect on Turkey’s economy:
– Banned the import of Turkish products. Trade between the two countries amounts to a whopping $33 billion annually, making Russia Turkey’s second largest trading partner.
– Refused the entry of Turkish businessmen into Russia. Sixty of them were detained upon their arrival in Moscow last week and sent back to Turkey.
– Lifted the visa-free travel of Turkish citizens to Russia as of Jan. 1.
– Forbade hiring new Turkish workers—currently 200,000 live with their families in Russia—and canceled multi-billion dollar construction contracts with Turkish firms.
– Ordered Russian travel agencies not to send tourists to Turkey, depriving that country of billions of dollars in income. Since 4.5 million Russians visited Turkey last year, Russia is Turkey’s second largest source of foreign tourists.
– Imposed higher customs duties on imports from and exports to Turkey.
– Under consideration is the cancellation of three major projects: 1) selling natural gas to Turkey as Russia supplies over half of that country’s needs; 2) building Turkey’s first nuclear power plant, worth over $22 billion; and 3) constructing a multi-billion dollar natural gas pipeline from Russia to Turkey.
Putin has also taken several military steps since the downing of the Russian jet:
– Boosted the Russian military presence in Syria—on the ground, in the air, and off the Mediterranean coast.
– Bombed pro-Turkish terrorist groups in the region where the Russian jet was hit and two Russian airmen killed.
– Destroyed hundreds of Turkish trucks, some of which were transporting weapons to the rebels in Syria, and others carrying oil bought from ISIS and smuggled into Turkey.
Russia may take additional military measures against Turkey in the near future:
– Arming Kurdish militants in Iraq, Syria, and within Turkey.
– Shooting down Turkish planes and helicopters that cross Syria’s or Armenia’s airspace, in view of such incursions in the past.
On the diplomatic front:
– Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov canceled his pre-planned trip to Turkey last week.
– Putin refused to take Erdogan’s phone calls and rejected his request for a meeting during their Paris visit.
– The Russian president called off the planned Summit Meeting with Erdogan in St. Petersburg on Dec. 15.
– The Russian Duma (Parliament) is considering a law that would criminalize denial of the Armenian Genocide with a 300,000-500,000 ruble penalty and 3-year imprisonment.
– Some Russian politicians have even called for the liberation of Western Armenia from Turkish occupation and the establishment of a free Kurdistan with its capital in Diyarbakir.
It appears that President Putin will not easily back down after the treacherous Turkish attack on the Russian jet. He has no choice but to react harshly to show the world that he won’t allow anyone to attack Russians with impunity. Putin described the Turkish action as a “stab in the back from the accomplices of terrorists” and sternly warned of “severe consequences.”
Erdogan has finally bitten off more than he can chew! He is foolishly confronting a nuclear power with a leader determined to go to great lengths to teach the arrogant Turkish president a lesson he will not soon forget.
If indeed Sultan Erdogan is counting on NATO to defend his reckless adventure, he is sadly mistaken. He cannot misrepresent the shooting down of a Russian jet as an attack on Turkey, and then seek protection by hiding under NATO’s skirts!
Regrettably, Turkey has become a major liability for NATO. The Turkish president’s irresponsible behavior over a minor incursion risks dragging all NATO members into a larger conflagration. NATO should seriously question the wisdom of harboring a terrorist state in its midst that can trigger yet again a grave international incident with far-reaching consequences for the entire world!
Harut Sassounian
“Regrettably, Turkey has become a major liability for NATO …” Turkey should not have been admitted to NATO in the first place. Look at this link: NATO, This deal is a turkey
http://original.antiwar.com/thomas-knapp/2015/11/25/nato-this-deal-is-a-turkey/
It’s about time a world leader had the guts to stand up and mandate
some powerful retaliatory measures against terrorist turkey. I hope this is wake up call to NATO and its members to to stop allowing ‘the Grand Sultan of the the neo-Ottoman Empire” to rule the roost and laugh at the rest of the world. Wake up, people!
Islamic State is backed by Western powers via their regional allies, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. For centuries Turks have acted as guard dogs for various Western powers because Turks form a barrier against Russians, Persians and Arabs. I am glad ErDOGan did Armenians a great favor by poking at the Russian bear. Russia will now put them in their place. Western Armenia seems doable all of a sudden. Are we ready?
Armenia is part of ODKB interesting enough I dont see any major Armenian reply to all this. Isnt ODKB all members should back up each other? Or it is only if Armenia attacked then you expect Russia to defend it, but no other way around?
Armenian DM condemned Turkey’s downing of the Russian plane. Here: https://www.armenianow.com/news/region/68085/armenia_defense_minister_seyran_ohanyan_turkey_russia
Dear Sassounian, You need to give credit where due. Turkey under Erdogan has shown a remarkable increase in its economic vitality, the socio- economic mobility on a personal and on a national level has greatly improved over these 10-12 years. During 2003 till 2014, the GDP has tripled from $260 billion to $860 billion, with exports rising from $26 billion to $186 billion, with per capita income increasing from around $4K to $10.5K during this period. Due to the EU customs union, Turkey has benefitted greatly, with more than 50% of the EU electronic and white goods market captured by Turkey. The current account deficit which was largely due to its oil and gas imports have now reduced drastically due to lower oil prices since September 2014 due to which they are now registering a trade surplus, which has helped them achieve economic stability. I am not a Turk to begin with, I am an Indian / British citizen so my view is unbiased.
You are right, about the Russian-Turkish trade of $33 billion which both parties wanted to raise it to $100 billion by 2020, it is difficult for both parties to replace these trade volumes overnight. As you would agree Trade tends to be bilateral and affects both parties rather than a single one. with trade in favour of Russia, Russian exports to Turkey are mainly energy exports along with agricultural exports. Should Russia impose economic sanctions, Turkey can also do that under the principle of mutuality.
with regards to the Turkish stream, it is already delayed till 2017, by that time Turkey would have had the TANAP and a gas pipeline from KRG (Kuristan Regional Government in Iraq) which has massive gas reserves scheduled for 2017 to supply Turkey and Europe.
http://www.dailysabah.com/energy/2015/11/29/iraqs-krg-has-enough-natural-gas-for-turkey-eu-official-says
Iran is coming out of its economic sanctions and can also contribute oil and gas to Turkey replacing Russian imports. It is an undeniable fact that Turkey is strategically located and is trying to be an energy hub rather than just an energy importer.
Turkey can hand over the building of the Nuclear power plant to Japan who is already building a plant there anyway if needed.
According to experts, Russia will struggle to find alternative trade partners since the country has already been suffering due to the sanctions implemented by the European Union. Russia’s decision to impose sanctions on Turkey is a weapon that backfires.
It is understandable that there would be an amount of envy, regarding Turkey being a NATO member, they have been a member since 1952 and the second largest partner in the NATO alliance, NATO and the US have fully supported the Turkish position with regards to the russian jet incident which is what really matters. No amount of editorial columns and views can negate that fact or remove Turkey from NATO.
Meanwhile,
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/Armenia-continues-losing-population.html
http://www.dailysabah.com/money/2015/11/04/turkey-number-2-global-exporter-of-eggs
To conclude it is not just Turkey who would suffer economically due to these sanctions but Russia would suffer more. Looks like Russia is finally choosing reason over sentimentality.
http://www.dailysabah.com/diplomacy/2015/12/02/russian-fm-lavrov-to-meet-turkish-counterpart-cavusoglu-in-belgrade
I rest my case.
Best Regards,
Mir
{NATO and the US have fully supported the Turkish position with regards to the russian jet incident}
This is an outright lie, in the best Turkish sly traditions. In fact, NATO and the US have essentially cut themselves off from this unjustified downing of the plane, which, again, in the best Turkish traditions, is called “incident”. Just like the genocidal extermination of the Armenians and the theft of their ancestral lands is, in the eyes of the Turks, a “tragic incident”. By the way, as “British” citizen you should know, I hope, that in the English language ethnonyms, such as “Russian”, are always capitalized? No?
{I am not a Turk to begin with, I am an Indian/British citizen so my view is unbiased.}
Right… And I am a Huli, a citizen of Papua New Guinea.
“I am not a Turk to begin with, I am an Indian / British citizen so my view is unbiased.”
Sorry but nobody here has unbiased views. Seriously? The nationality of one’s passports can determine one is biased or not?
“My ancestors came from Shiraz centuries back, like all Iranians …”
I would find it hard to believe that your Muslim background does not make you biased in favor of Muslim Turkey. And you’re referencing Daily Sabah, which is a pro-government AKP mouthpiece. A very biased source to put it mildly.
It looks like the days of Turkey’s membership in NATO are numbered…
Umm dude the NATO secretary general has supported our position. It’s called YouTube or you can go directly to NATO website.
You can claim this is that, that is this and believe it yourself that’s fine. It’s the Internet and you only have to fool yourself ‘johnian’.
your malice towards Turkey being a NATO member and ally is understandable, I present to you statements from top US / NATO officials which fully corroborate my point of view, with such resounding support for its NATO ally, no matter how much you dislike the fact, Turkey is not going to be removed from its NATO membership anytime soon. tough luck ?
http://www.dailysabah.com/diplomacy/2015/11/25/us-officials-back-turkey-protecting-its-borders
http://www.dailysabah.com/diplomacy/2015/11/26/us-needs-to-show-support-to-turkey-presidential-candidate-jeb-bush-says
http://www.dailysabah.com/diplomacy/2015/12/01/nato-to-deploy-command-ships-aircrafts-to-turkey-in-new-defense-measure
http://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2015/11/26/turkey-fully-justified-in-shooting-russian-warplane-former-us-rep-to-nato-says
http://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2015/11/24/nato-confirms-information-provided-by-turkey-supports-territorial-integrity-of-its-ally
http://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2015/10/08/nato-ready-to-defend-turkey-if-necessary-nato-chief-says
I guess this amount of evidence should be enough to put your statement to rest ? I think you should give credit where due, the founding fathers of Turkey had vision and foresight to join a dynamic organization of which they are reaping dividends. No ?.
Türkoğlu Muhtesem Yuzyil (a returned courtesy for “johnian”, although I never made secret of my Armenian origin),
Another Türkoğlu here, Mir Ali, wrote: “NATO and the US have fully supported the Turkish position with regards to the russian jet incident”. Noted was the fact that an alleged “British citizen” and an “Indian”, whose second native language must be English, did not capitalize the ethnonym “Russian” and called the downing of the plane and the killing of a pilot descending in his parachute, an “incident”…
As for NATO and the US “fully supporting” the Turkish position on the jet downing, neither Stoltenberg nor Obama uttered a word in “full support” of the Turkish crime.
Stoltenberg basically said that NATO “stood in solidarity with Turkey and support the territorial integrity of our NATO ally” and called for “calm and de-escalation, and renewed contacts between Moscow and Ankara.” Do you see anything remotely suggesting that NATO “fully supported the Turkish position with regards to the russian jet incident”? “Solidarity” and “support of territorial integrity” are just that: general, pro forma, phrases.
Obama basically said that the Russians “are operating very close to a Turkish border and they are going after moderate opposition” and that “Turkey, like every country, has the right to defend its territory and its airspace.” Do you see anything remotely suggesting that the US “fully supported the Turkish position with regards to the russian jet incident”? That any country has the right to defend its territory and its airspace is another age-old, pro forma, phrase.
Chill out,
“johnian”
Wow… “The founding fathers of Turkey”? Please enlighten us, ordinary Joes, as to how many founding fathers Turkey had. Exclude Freemason/Dönmeh Kemal, please…
Dear Türkoğlu Mir Ali:
You presented statistics to make your case for your kin, the Turks.
Who, btw, are illegally squatting on the lands of others at the moment.
I am a little busy right to rebut your unsubstantiated boasts about Turkey point by point, but will give you one statistic to show the miserable cesspool Turkey is, despite having been on EU and Western life support since its unnatural, criminal creation 90 or so years ago
Note: those white goods that Turkey exports to Europe are manufactured in factories designed and build by European companies, mainly German (e.g. Bosch). Turks provide cheap, unskilled labor.
What is there to boast about ? Europeans provide the technology and Turks the cheap labor. So ?
What exactly have Turks themselves designed or created ?
Here you go: boast about this statistic.
[Two thirds of children live in poverty in Turkey: Report]
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/two-thirds-of-children-live-in-poverty-in-turkey-report.aspx?pageID=238&nID=65461&NewsCatID=341
{The severe material deprivation rate among children aged between 0 and 15 in Turkey was 63.5 percent in 2011, according to the report released by Betam on April 22, the day before Turkey’s official national Children’s Day. According to the figures, Turkey falls behind Southern Europe countries as well as other less-developed European countries such as Hungary and Romania. In Romania, which has the closest rate to Turkey, this rate is 36 percent, while in Greece it is 16.5 percent and in Italy it is 12.4 percent.}
[Two-thirds of Turkey’s children live in extreme poverty, study says]
http://www.todayszaman.com/anasayfa_two-thirds-of-turkeys-children-live-in-extreme-poverty-study-says_345869.html
I guess Erdogan exports lots of eggs produced on stolen farms: unfortunately for Turkish children, the exported eggs are taken from their mouths by the criminal Erdogan family gang.
Good thing Erdogan came a along: {“Turkey under Erdogan has shown a remarkable increase in its economic vitality, the socio- economic mobility”}
If the Paramount Sultan had not shown up, would 95% of Turkey’s children be in poverty now ?
{To conclude ….. Looks like Russia is finally choosing reason over sentimentality.
http://www.dailysabah.com/diplomacy/2015/12/02/russian-fm-lavrov-to-meet-turkish-counterpart-cavusoglu-in-belgrade }
To conclude, attempts by desperate nomad Turks to calm down the angry Bear were firmly rebuffed by Russia’s FM Lavrov.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/nothing-new-from-russia-turkey-talks-on-downed-fighter-jet.aspx?pageID=238&nID=92044&NewsCatID=510
{Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he had heard “nothing new” from his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Dec. 3 after the first high-level bilateral contact between the two countries since the Turkish airforce shot down a Russian jet on Nov. 24. }
And,
{Speaking at Thursday’s annual address to Russia’s parliament, Putin stated: “If someone thinks they can commit war crimes, kill our people and get away with it, suffering nothing but a ban on tomato imports, as well as a few restrictions in construction or other industries, they’re delusional.”}
Looks like Russia is going skin the mange Turk jackal from Uyguristan alive.
The ring is closing around the criminal, terrorist, illegal, IslamoFascist, Genocidal nomad Turkic state.
btw, Türkoğlu Mir Ali:
If Turkey is such a paradise, why are millions of Muslim Turks still living in Christian Europe ? Why aren’t they returning to Turkey ?
And why are beggar Turks blackmailing EU with so-called “refugees” to have EU accession talks re-started: whatever happened to the alleged “proud” Turks ? After unsuccessfully begging in their knees for decades to be allowed into civilized EU, they finally resorted to blackmail.
And why did cowardly Turks run to hide behind NATO skirts after they stabbed the Russians in the back and shot down the Su-24 ?
Best regards.
See you soon @AW.
Avery.
Avery, In response to your comment, I would like to begin with civic behaviour on the forum, I am an Indian and am proud of that fact, to be part of a multi ethnic and multi cultural ethos and tradition, I am also proud of my British citizenship which mirrors the traditions for cricket and tea which is a common denominator between the two countries and am happy to contribute towards its economic mobility. As a Brit I love this island, its people and traditions. As a global citizen I am entitled to have views of the world as it affects me as a global citizen. I appreciate that my opinions and views may or may not be palatable to others, which some may disagree and is fine with me (that is the whole point in having a discussion). I have presented my views in a civilized decorum and expect the same from others. your outbursts appear to an very emotional, immature and childish to say the least, it would appear that you cannot conduct your views without having to resorted to personal slander. I shall keep civilised decorum and shall not stoop to your level.
With regards to your statement as to why people from Islamic nations move to the west if their economies are doing well ?. I for one have not lived long enough (barring transit via Qatar and Dubai and on a 7 day holiday to Turkey) in the middle east so cannot quantify your comment. However, I can say as an Indian, whose economy is booming with a 2 trillion dollar GDP, being global citizens Indians still migrate for personal and economic reasons and come back to India for the same reasons. who are you to lecture them as to what they should and shouldn’t do ? If you replace the words Islamic with Armenian in your statement would it change one iota ? NO. Just like you have a right for social and economic mobility, don’t you think others profess the same right as you do ?
Russia’s Achilles heel is Oil and Gas, which it needs to survive (It is not alone to be that predicament). It is not rocket science to state the obvious, Rouble closely mirrors crude oil prices on a fundamental level. Turkey should buy its Gas from Islamic Republic of Iran, KRG and Qatar in retaliation for Russian Trade sanctions (why feed the snake ? when you can buy your oil from neighbouring Islamic countries ?) It would appear that they are doing the same at the moment. Turkey still has the trump card, they can block access to the Bosporus straits where 3 million barrels of Russian crude ply through, and when that happens you would find the Russian bear in a circus coming soon to town near you. I have promised my kids to take them to the circus once it comes to town.
http://www.dailysabah.com/finance/2015/12/07/us-crude-oil-crashes-to-a-six-year-low-at-3748-as-wall-st-slides
http://www.dailysabah.com/energy/2015/12/08/russian-ruble-falls-to-three-month-low-upon-opecs-decision-to-abandon-output-limits
http://www.dailysabah.com/diplomacy/2015/12/07/turkey-may-obstruct-passage-of-russian-ships-in-key-straits-if-tension-escalates
I think I have answered to john regarding NATO. I am a bit tied up at work, shall review your comments in detail and try to provide a rebuttal.
My ancestors came from Shiraz centuries back, like all Iranians I like to argue and debate along with fine poetry. I have nothing against you, If you come to UK, I would like to invite you for a cup of coffee.
If I am correct, it was reported that one of the pilots was shot and killed as he descended in his parachute. Nothing has been expressed about the horror of such an inhumane action.
{Umm dude the NATO secretary general has supported our position.}
(Muhtesem Yuzyil // December 8, 2015 at 3:20 am //)
Ummm dude: as [Johnian] wrote, the statements by NATO officials are the standard, minimum they would be expected to utter.
Now read the following: it’s called the Web.
[DoD: Unclear whether Russian jet violated Turkish airspace]
http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2015/11/24/dod-unclear-whether-russian-jet-violated-turkish-airspace/76330548/
{The Pentagon tread cautiously Tuesday and said that it was unclear whether the Russian aircraft shot down by Turkey had, in fact, violated Turkish airspace, as the government of that nation insists.}
A US NATO ‘ally’ publicly saying they are not sure if Turks are telling the truth is the same as US telling the world Turks are lying. Yep, sure looks like solid NATO “support”.
More NATO support for the lying Turks.
[NATO envoys urge Turkey to show restraint after Russian warplane downed]
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey-nato-idUSKBN0TD2C620151124#cIgDwfdfGz1GuKoq.97
{Diplomats present at the meeting told Reuters that while none of the 28 NATO envoys defended Russia’s actions, many expressed concern that Turkey did not escort the Russian warplane out of its airspace. “There are other ways of dealing with these kinds of incidents,” said one diplomat who declined to be named.}
Diplomatic language for “…why the heck did we allow these savage, unpredictable Turkic nomads into NATO…they gonna get us into Big trouble one of these days…”
btw: can any of you Turk guests explain why is it that the supposedly “fierce”, “proud”, “tough”, “brave”, etc, etc, etc Uyguroğlar Turks ran to (Christian) Papa NATO for protection, right after the naughty nomad boy did something terrible ?
I mean, why do you Islamists need the protection of Christians if you are such “proud” Muslim Turks ?
I mean from beginning to end your posts crow about the protection and support from (Christian) NATO ? You guys don’t see how ridiculous and pitiful that looks for supposedly “proud” Muslim Turks ?
Not one word about standing up to Russians on your own: always hiding behind NATO.
Or maybe you Turks are only tough against unarmed civilians, women, children, babies ?
Don’t know: just asking.
Averyian. (aka Avery the Armenian).
{ Avery, In response to your comment, I would like to begin with civic behaviour on the forum}
{ I have presented my views in a civilized decorum and expect the same from others…..}
Mir Ali:
When you use an expression “the Little Armenian Gangster “ while referring to Armenia, all civic behaviour goes out the door.
When you put quotes around the Armenian Genocide (“genocide”), then last thing you should expect from [Avery the Armenian] is consideration.
You fling mud at my people, I will fling it right back, with interest. I don’t play nice with denialists.
And you can keep claiming you are supposedly Indian.
You are not: you are a Turk. Or have a Turk in your immediate family.
Your visceral hatred of Armenia and Armenians can only come from someone who identifies with nomad Turks.
Neither Indians nor Iranians show the type of hatred you show towards Armenia and Armenians.
Quite the opposite.
Poster [John] showed as much in another thread:
[(john // March 10, 2015 at 6:05 pm //) Mir Ali, An estimated quarter of the population of Shiraz are Iranian Azeris, the descendants of Oghuz Turkic tribes. Might it be that your forefathers were Azeris, too? What I mean to say is that it is highly untypical for an Iranian (i.e. a noble Aryan Persian) to post Turkic-tilted comments in an Armenian forum.]
I too am a little busy too.
Will prepare a rebuttal to your post (Mir Ali // December 8, 2015 at 2:24 pm //), in the near future.
btw: {..your outbursts appear to an very emotional, immature and childish to say the least, it would appear that you cannot conduct your views without having to resorted to personal slander. I shall keep civilised decorum and shall not stoop to your level.}
Thank you Doctor Mir Ali for the free diagnosis. I knew something was wrong with me, but did not know what.
I feel much better already.