Diasporan political organizations and influential Armenians, in cooperation with the Armenian Foreign Ministry, should launch an international lobbying campaign to block Turkey and Azerbaijan from gaining coveted seats on the United Nations Security Council.
Three years ago, I made a similar plea when Turkey was seeking a seat on the Security Council for the first time since 1961. I urged Armenians worldwide to contact government leaders of their respective countries and request that their UN representatives oppose Turkey’s Security Council bid. Regrettably, no such efforts were made and Turkey easily gained a seat on the powerful Security Council for a two-year term (2009 and 2010).
One advantage Armenians have in being scattered throughout the world is their unique opportunity to lobby the governments of dozens of countries on upcoming issues at the UN. Such a strategy would considerably strengthen the Armenian Foreign Ministry’s UN activities. The diaspora’s political clout and contacts would counter the considerable financial resources Turkey and Azerbaijan provide to many countries to obtain their UN votes. As reported by the Eurasia Daily Monitor, Turkey bribed dozens of third world countries in its successful bid for a Security Council seat in 2009. The Turkish government went as far as contributing $20 million to a number of small nations to pay off their UN membership dues, so they wouldn’t lose their voting rights.
Encouraged by the results of its previous campaign, Turkey just announced its candidacy for yet another term on the Security Council in 2015-16, competing with Spain and New Zealand for two open regional seats. Both of these countries are far more qualified than Turkey in terms of fulfilling the Security Council’s objectives of contributing to international peace and security. Having just served for two years on the Security Council after the absence of a half-century, Turkey’s hegemonic appetite is now whetted to return to the Council in five years, much earlier than its turn!
For those familiar with Turkey’s long record of human rights violations, its repeated massacres of Kurds, denial of the Armenian Genocide, and occupation of the northern part of Cyprus, it is shocking to read the excuses of the Turkish Foreign Ministry for its new Security Council bid: “Turkey is determined to increase its contributions to international peace, security, and prosperity, as well as to further its efforts towards strengthening fundamental principles and values such as human rights, democracy, and rule of law.”
Having a seat on the UN Security Council, however, may not always be advantageous for Turkey. Its hypocritical behavior of pretending to be everyone’s best friend risks being exposed, as was the case in 2009-10 when Turkey was forced to take sides and vote on such thorny issues as the Arab-Israeli conflict and the controversial Iranian nuclear program, antagonizing many of its traditional allies.
While Armenians have a five-year advance notice to effectively plan their lobbying activities against Turkey’s membership bid, they have only three months to obstruct Azerbaijan’s Security Council candidacy in elections to be held this October. According to knowledgeable sources, Azerbaijan’s foreign minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, is globe-trotting to provide financial inducements to dozens of needy countries in return for votes. Mammadyarov urged the foreign ministers gathered at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation conference to support Azerbaijan’s first-ever bid for a seat on the Security Council, claiming that his country has a “strong commitment to goals and principles of the UN Charter.”
Given Azerbaijan’s authoritarian regime as documented by the State Department and other human rights organizations, in particular its lack of democracy, flagrant violations of human rights, and constant threats to use force against the neighboring Republics of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh (Artsakh), it is hard to imagine a country less qualified to serve on the UN Security Council.
Since Azerbaijan will be competing with Slovenia and Hungary for a Security Council seat, one would think that Baku’s chances are close to zero. However, given Azerbaijan’s lavish vote-buying spree funded by abundant petrodollars, Armenians and their supporters need to work hard in the next three months to channel the UN members’ votes towards either Slovenia or Hungary, and away from Azerbaijan.
In countering Turkish and Azerbaijani efforts in international organizations, Armenians must be encouraged by the major political setback suffered by Turkey last week, when Armenia and Cyprus blocked the appointment of a Turkish diplomat to the prestigious position of Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The top contenders for that job were Austria’s former foreign minister, Ursula Plassnik, and Turkey’s ambassador to Brazil, Ersin Ercin. By blocking Austria’s candidate, Turkey caused a serious diplomatic rift between the two countries. At the end, Ambassador Lamberto Zannier of Italy was unanimously chosen as the OSCE’s new Secretary General.
Armenia and Cyprus must be congratulated for not caving in to Turkish pressures and standing up in defense of their national interests.
Harut Sassounian
One may or may not agree with Harout on every issue, but he certainly identifies and clarifies important questions that most people have not even been thinking about. Aprek, Harout!
Indeed – not only is it a very wise and visionary advice – when it comes to Erdogan and Turkey’s blatant violation of Nato sanctions against Iran – Turkey VIOLATED those laws – further, Erdogan has been doing LOTS of illegal business with Gadhafi in Libya – further – Turkey has turned a BLIND eye to all the weapons, rockets, chemical poison and other dangerous Iranian assault weapons being smuggled through Turkish ports and airports to ASSAD, HAMAS, HIZBULLAH ……..AND they are now welcoming the Taliban to take up office in Turkey. What next -? a “cultural” center for AlQueida?
One thing is for SURE: Turkey does NOT deserve – nor have they earned the right to be members of the security council – they are PROVEN VIOLATERS OF SECURITY RULES – and if Turkey were allowed into the security council – it will not be long before Erdogan starts “selling” out to Iran, Hamas, Hizbullah, muslim brotherhood, Assad and Ahmadinejad.
It is also shocking to read that you call occupation of the northern part of Cyprus but you do not call occupation of Karabagh but leberation of Karabagh. DO NOT MOVE. YOU HAVE BEEN FRAMED
to john evans-
it is a pleasure to read your comments, mr. evans. a couple of years ago i had the pleasure of meeting you and your lovely wife at a dinner honouring you at the armenian church in toronto. at that time i was present on the stage when as a dignitary you were presented with one of my artwork on armenia. we are very appreciative on your continued interests and comments on issues that concern us all.
best regards
gerard paraghamian a.o.c.a.
It’s very simple, Monastras. Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh), part of historical Armenia, was given (together with Nakhichevan) to the newly-created nation of Azerbaijan (that never before existed on the world map) in the 1920s by the unilateral decision of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. The region was re-gained by Artsakh Armenians in the war in early 1990s. That’s why it’s called liberation. The sovereign UN member-state of Cyprus, on the other hand, was subject to explicit military occupation by the Turkish Republic as a result of invasion of 1974. Turkey occupied the northern part of the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus and later formed an illegal TRNC. That’s why it’s called occupation.
arm k
Why not liberate nakhichvan and the historic armenia from turkey.you can even be greater
Karabakh was never part of independent Azerbaijan. Turkish Republic Northern Cyprus was part of independent Cyprus before the Turkish invasion. There’s the difference.
One step at a time, monastras. One step at a time…
The cooperation between Armenia and Cyprus shows that this can be a powerful tool. This is why we need an Orthodox Union where Orthodox Nations can work together to defend each others interests. The Orthodox Union can promote trade and establish a joint self-defense agreement. This is the most powerful way to stop the Turks and Azeri’s.
oh look, a Zionistpropagandist trying to turn it into the typical “oh my god hamas hezballah blah blah blah”
I agree with Patrick, there needs to be an Orthodox Union with Russia, Bulgarian, Serbia, Greece, Cyprus, (Eastern Ukraine), and Armenia. Iran can also be an observer. Georgia can join one day if they ever get their heads straight. We must counter the Turks