Several citizens in Turkey, including writers, poets, workers and academics, called on governments to support initiatives aimed at ending the clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The signatories of the “No war, hatred and hostility, but Peace!” initiative stated that they were against any war that caused death and destruction.
“Contrary to the views of some living beings, humankind needs to make the world habitable, not extinct. The prior condition for that fact is peace. Bloody solutions like war and violence are destructive for communities and cause pain. Being aware that the war-violence approach does not work, we need to insist on dialogue and negotiations to solve problems”, the signatories noted.
The signatories recognised that those parties that have increased the policy of “nationalism” through war between Armenia and Azerbaijan have accused the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) of betrayal.
The signatories noted that “HDP deputy Garo Paylan, who had demanded peace and dialogue instead of war, is an Armenian citizen from Turkey. The pain of Hrant Dink has affected our people’s sense of justice deeply. So, we feel and know the trauma caused by that pain well. For that very reason, we have to defend peace and gather against the assaults against our people. We must unite”.
The recent conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh
The recent clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan began on 27 September in Nagorno-Karabakh. Reportedly, at least 400 people have lost their lives since the beginning of the conflict. Armenia’s human rights ombudsman Artak Beglaryan stated this week that renewed fighting had displaced around half of Nagorno-Karabakh’s 140,000 residents and forced some 90% of its women and children from their homes.
Since then, both sides have accused each other of launching the first attacks. Azerbaijan’s condition to terminate the clashes was based on its demand that Armenia withdraws from Nagorno-Karabakh. Nagorno-Karabakh is located in the borders of Azerbaijan according to international law. However, the majority of the population consists of Armenian people. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin called on both sides to end the clashes. The two parties met in Moscow and agreed on a ceasefire on 10 October. The details of the ceasefire agreement are yet to be announced.
