Gintaras Visockas. Slaptai.lt foto

By Gintaras Visockas

On 20 October I attended a remotely organized conference: ‘South Caucasus: political – legal aspects after the 2020 autumn war’. This conference, organized by Azerbaijan, was led by Ambassador, professor Namik Aliyev. Political scientists, scientists, journalists from Georgia, Israel, Poland, Moldova, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and author of these lines spoke at the conference. The recording of this conference is available at day.az .

At the conference I criticized Lithuania’s position to everywhere and in all ways indulge Armenia, who for 30 years has occupied Azeri territories (more arguments are available in by collections of articles ‘Tragedy of the Black Garden’ and ‘Case of Black Garden’, published in 2016 and 2021).

Then I received requests from Azerbaijan’s journalists, for example, Jamila Chebotareva, to answer several questions. These are my answers to Azerbaijani journalist Jamila Chebotareva. On 25 October I sent them to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis. On 27 October I received a response from Lithuanian MFA. Here are those answers. They completely contradict my remarks in the article ‘Lithuania’s policy in South Caucasus – disgustingly biased’.

Respectfully
Gintaras Visockas

In which spheres Lithuania and Azerbaijan can successfully cooperate?

We are successfully developing bilateral cooperation with Azerbaijan in many fields. In July 2020, at the sixth sitting of Lithuanian-Azerbaijani inter-governmental bilateral cooperation commission (TVK) the guidelines were drawn for further cooperation in fields of trade, investment, innovation, engineering industry, transport, energy, agriculture and environment protection. Lithuania and Azerbaijan actively cooperate in implementing EU Twinning projects, we already have 12 of them. We are happy about Azeri youth choosing studies in Lithuania. When the pandemic situation allows travelling, we will receive Azeri tourists in Lithuania. Azerbaijan participates in the Eastern Partnership program, further strengthening of ties between Azerbaijan and EU opens opportunities to even closer bilateral cooperation.

How did Lithuania react to the news that in autumn 2020 in 44 days Azerbaijan in a military way reclaimed its lands?

Decades long conflict and the 2020 war have demanded many victims, for which we are sorry, but it has not brought sustainable peace to the region. We see that many unsolved challenges remain. To solve them it is important to restore trust and dialogue. We think that sustainable political solution of the conflict should be achieved with mediation of OSCE Minsk group.

Are Lithuanian informed enough about Karabakh conflict?

It is a long lasting conflict, widely reflected both in Lithuanian and foreign media. Interested persons will really find a lot of information, analyses and other materials about these tragic events.

Does Lithuania respect territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, that is, does Lithuania agree that Karabakh is a territory of Azerbaijan, not Armenia?

The Republic of Lithuania and the European Union recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, they do not recognize Nagorno Karabakh and support a sustainable solution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in a way of negotiations, supported by the main principles, set in the United Nations Charter and Helsinki Final Act and with mediation of OSCE Minsk group.

Lithuanian MFA. Slaptai.lt foto

Was it possible to regulate Karabakh conflict in a peaceful way?

As mentioned before, we unambiguously support solving conflicts in negotiations, following principles of international law.

Is it possible that Azeri and Armenian nations would live as friends?

We strongly believe that Azeri and Armenian nations will manage to reconcile and create the future of their people in peace. Since the Second World War the history of Europe provides many examples that it is possible to successfully overcome enmity and join forces for future.

Why, through Eastern Partnership program, Lithuania is drawing Armenia to Europe, while Armenia has allowed a Russian military base, tends to occupy foreign territories, has not condemned terrorist organizations ASALA, Gncak and Dasnakcutiun?

The content and extent of Armenia’s participation in Eastern Partnership program is a sovereign decision of this country. We strongly believe that cooperation of South Caucasian countries with EU opens great opportunities to the region, because EU itself firstly is a project of peace and cohabitation. Regional cooperation is the driving force of economic development and peaceful cohabitation of people.

Did Lithuania act correctly when in 2005 Seimas adopted a resolution on Armenian genocide in 1915? Neither then, when resolution was adopted, nor now, none of Lithuanian historians, political scientists, journalists have studied materials in Turkish, Azeri or Armenian (who does not allow foreigners in) archives.

Having itself experienced years of occupation in 1940-1991, tragic for the state and people, Lithuania understands tragedies that other nations have endured. Seimas resolutions on tragic moments of world history strengthen the aim of international community to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Can Lithuania be called a democratic country, if Lithuanian Academy of Sciences allows Armenian Ambassador and Armenian historians, politicians to hold a discussion on tragic events of 1915, but does not allow the same to Turkish Ambassador and Turkish historians?

The laws of the Republic of Lithuania provide academic freedom to the members of the academic community, the main element of which is the freedom of mind and expression, guaranteed by the Constitution. Lithuanian Academy of Sciences is an independent institution and it could best comment motives of its decisions.

What did Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian recently come to Lithuania for? This politician clearly did not agree to peacefully, in a friendly manner return Karabakh territories to Azerbaijan. In the years of his rule, Armenia shelled Azeri cities of Ganja, Barda, Tartar, which have nothing to do with Karabakh. Tens of civilians were killed, tens of houses destroyed. Has Lithuania expressed condolences to Azerbaijan for these victims, has she condemned such attacks by Yerevan?

This year Lithuania and Armenia mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The visit of the Prime Minister Pashinian of the Republic of Armenia was an important opportunity to evaluate what has been achieved in thirty years in the fields of bilateral relations and draw further prospects of bilateral relations between Lithuania and Armenia, discuss cooperation between EU and Armenia, preparation for 15 December 2021 Eastern Partnership summit.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis. URM nuotr.

The war of Nagorno Karabakh has caused many painful deaths, we are sorry for the losses, every broken life is invaluable. Lithuania and EU have multiple times expressed sincere sympathies both publicly and in meetings with highest leaders.

Why Lithuania, a democratic country, is interested in preserving Armenian heritage in Karabakh and is not interested in what Armenian separatists did to monuments of Azeri culture, history and religion in Karabakh, during their rule?

Both Armenia and Azerbaijan are important partners to Lithuania, we are interested in ensuring peace and stability in the region.

In the field of preserving heritage abroad, we prioritize such heritage objects that are important to Lithuanian history and culture, not distinguishing any country.

Source of information – Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Department of Communication and cultural diplomacy)

2021.10.28; 04:39

Gintaras Visockas. Slaptai.lt foto

By Gintaras Visockas

On 20 October I attended a remotely organized conference: ‘South Caucasus: political – legal aspects after the 2020 autumn war’. This conference, organized by Azerbaijan, was led by Ambassador, professor Namik Aliyev. Political scientists, scientists, journalists from Georgia, Israel, Poland, Moldova, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and author of these lines spoke at the conference. The recording of this conference is available at day.az .

At the conference I criticized Lithuania’s position to everywhere and in all ways indulge Armenia, who for 30 years has occupied Azeri territories (more arguments are available in by collections of articles ‘The Tragedy of Black Garden’ and ‘The Case of Black Garden’, published in 2016 and 2021).

Then I received requests from Azerbaijan’s journalists, for example, Jamila Chebotareva, to answer several questions. These are my answers to Azerbaijani journalist Jamila Chebotareva.

In which spheres Lithuania and Azerbaijan can successfully cooperate?

Our countries could cooperate in many fields – political, economic, cultural. However official Lithuania does not want to be friends with Azerbaijan. Lithuania’s politicians are only searching for ways to establish as many ties as possible with Armenia. Official foreign policy of Lithuania for Southern Caucasus is to strengthen Armenia. Anything else is not important. In my understanding, such stance of official Vilnius is wrong. But I would lie if I hid that Lithuania is allegedly acting objectively. Indulging Armenia is obvious. If Lithuanian leaders fly to South Caucasus, they firstly visit Yerevan. They fly to Baku only to maintain an image that Lithuania is equally just to both Armenians and Azerbaijani.

Algimantas Liekis’ book ‘Moving Nations’

For example, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s wife has already visited Lithuania (she was hosted by Lithuania’s First Lady Diana Nausediene, wife of Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda). Mr. Pashinian himself also has visited Vilnius. Wives of Azeri leaders have not been invited to Vilnius. The highest officials of Azerbaijan are also not invited to Vilnius. If Lithuania sends humanitarian aid and vaccines, medical teams to South Caucasus, then it sends them only to Armenia. When the Armenian tragedy of 1915 was once marked at the Lithuanian Genocide and Resistance Centre (LGRC), highest leaders of LGRC attended that event, but when Hocali victims were commemorated at the premises of LGRC, there wasn’t even one head of LGRC there. The last example of cooperation between Vilnius and Yerevan is that Transport Ministers launched direct flights Yerevan-Vilnius-Yerevan.

How did Lithuania react to the news that in autumn 2020 in 44 days Azerbaijan in a military way reclaimed its lands?

Of course, I might have missed something, but it seems to me, most of Lithuanian politicians, political scientists, journalists criticized Azerbaijan for choosing a military way to reclaim Karabakh. The fact that, according to the international law, Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan, that official Baku for a very long time already has been patiently waiting for help from the West, but did not get it – all of that was subtly omitted. Armenia was not criticized for having occupied about 20 percent of Azeri lands for almost three decades. That is my impression.

Are Lithuanian informed enough about Karabakh conflict?

Lithuanians do not really know the real history of Karabakh. Many influential Lithuanians are still convinced that Karabakh is Armenian land. Lithuania does not know or does not want to know that in the 1992-1994 war for Karabakh Armenian troops were assisted by Russian military.

It is very complicated to get Lithuanian media to publish anything favourable to Azerbaijan, especially about the conflict for Karabakh. I say this in personal experience. They do not publish. If you ask Lithuanians, what is Dasnaktsutiun, ASALA or Gncak, often a Lithuanian would answer that ‘these are Azeri terrorist organizations’. Really not all Lithuanians know that a Russian military base is still deployed in Armenia, even more, not all know that this year, in the aggressive military drill ‘Zapad’ held by Russia and Belarus by the Lithuanian border, Armenian military instructors too were learning how to occupy Baltic countries. Only on my portal you will find articles which examine the relations of Armenia and Azerbaijan. There have been only a few books published in Lithuania, which present not only Armenian, but also Azeri arguments. These are historian Algimantas Liekis’ book ‘Moving Nations’ and collections of my articles ‘The Tragedy of Black Garden’ and ‘The Case of Black Garden’. That is all.

Does Lithuania respect territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, that is, does Lithuania agree that Karabakh is a territory of Azerbaijan, not Armenia?

The Case of Black Garden

Official policy of Lithuania is correct. We respect Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. But behind the stage it is completely different. I could give a long list of Lithuania, who, ignoring official Baku, have travelled through Armenia to Karabakh and, after returning, would write in Lithuanian media ‘what moral and physical pains poor Armenians suffer, fearing cruel Azeri attacks’. I could recall many television programs, multiple publications in respected Lithuanian media, where discussion participants disputed Azeri right to Karabakh. There isn’t a single line that many Azerbaijani people in the past lived in Karabakh, even Yerevan, who were driven off their homelands. Nothing about suffering of Azeri refugees. Not a single word that Armenia in autumn 2020 insidiously shelled Ganja, Tartar, Barda cities, which have no connection to Karabakh and that civilian Azeri were killed in these attacks. Not a line that during Armenian rule in Karabakh, many cultural, historical and religious Azeri monuments have been destroyed or desecrated. Only worrying that allegedly now Muslim Azeri, entering Karabakh, will destroy Christian cultural and historic monuments.

Was it possible to regulate Karabakh conflict in a peaceful way?

In my understanding, this conflict could have been regulated in a peaceful way only if the US, NATO and EU had acted in a principled manner – strongly demanded Armenian troops to be withdrawn from Karabakh. Then, yes. But for the last three decades the West, for reasons unknown to me, have been obviously indulging Armenia, who had occupied foreign territories. Therefore, Azerbaijan had no other choice. Either Azerbaijan takes by force what belongs to it according to international law, or for another 30 years listens to Western talks about necessity ‘to solve the conflict in a peaceful way’. The West and their toothless negotiation groups are to blame for the fact that in autumn 2020 Azerbaijan was forced to use military measures to take back its lands.

By the way, in past Lithuania was in a very similar situation like Azerbaijan is for Karabakh. I mean the operation of Klaipeda liberation in 1923. Then, instead of listening to Western talks about necessity to peacefully regulate Klaipeda’s fate, Lithuania dressedits soldiers in civil clothes and by force took back the port and drove foreign military away. If not for that military operation, Lithuania would have probably lost Klaipeda forever. Therefore, I find acceptable the remark by famous Russian economist Andrey Ilarionov saying that only very rarely it is possible to peacefully reclaim territories. Efforts to find peaceful ways are most often fruitless. Occupants do not give occupied territories with good will.

Is it possible that Azeri and Armenian nations would live as friends?

It is possible. But Armenia should act in away that Armenian history researcher Philip Ekozyan suggests. Armenia has to refuse falsifications. Armenia needs to look at its history with sober eyes. They need to research without prejudice not only their own archives, but also allow in historians, researchers from other countries. Then the worth of myths about ‘the great Armenia from sea to sea’ will be clearer.

But it is not that easy to look at history honestly. Even Lithuania is not always successful in honest analysis of historic events. In 2005 Lithuanian Seimas adopted a special resolution ‘on Armenian genocide in tragic year 1915’. In my opinion it was a very wrong step by official Vilnius. Then, when the resolution was adopted, none of Lithuanian historians, political scientists, journalists not for a moment had gone to archives of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia (who still does not accept foreigners). It is impossible to understand how such statements can be made without analysing primary sources.

The Tragedy of Black Garden

I am also ashamed by another Lithuanian step. It took place in 2019. At the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, Armenians organized a discussion on the 1915 tragedy. Heads of Lithuanian Academy of Sciences acted correctly by allowing in Lithuanian politicians, historians, representatives of Armenian community. But the Academy betrayed principles of democracy and morality, when did not allow into the same hall the Turkish Ambassador and Turkish historians to discuss the same 1915. Armenians are welcome, Turks were shown the door.

I thought that after this slap in the face Turkey would recall itsambassador, stating that from now on Turkish jets would not be protecting Lithuanian air space anymore. But thanks for it, official stance of Turkey remained solid.

Thus, these are my pessimistic answers.

Editorial note

I sent the questions of Azeri journalist Jamila Chebotareva to the President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis and head of Seimas Committee for Foreign Affairs Zygimantas Pavilionis.

We will publish the response if they answer.

2021.10.29; 04:22

Beirut, the Lebanese capital. EPA – ELTA foto.

We all know that on August 4 in Beirut, the Lebanese capital, two powerful explosions destroyed seaport warehouses, taking hundreds of lives and wiping out entire quarters of the city. Currently, such an official version is announced – the explosions were caused by inefficiency and clutter. There are no signs of terrorist activity.

The disaster in Beirut

It was not so long ago when due to this accident over 300 thousand people of Beirut lost their homes.

The EU was one of the first to provide humanitarian aid to Lebanon. That support is € 63 million (Lebanese President Michel Aoun claims that the explosion of 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate in the port caused more than € 12.7 billion in damage).

Lithuania did not remain indifferent to the pain of Lebanon, it allocated 50 thousand EUR.

However, vigilance should not be lost in such cases. It is important that those suspected or accused of terrorist acts do not receive assistance. We are well aware that, under the guise of this disaster, representatives of various terrorist organizations operating in Lebanon are also likely to apply for financial support or a residence permit in Europe. Such counterfeits should not be ruled out.

By the way, Lithuania is just like that – vigilant, cautious. Few days ago the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that persons associated with “Hezbollah” (it is active and strong in Lebanon, it is of particular concern to Israel) have been banned from entering Lithuania for 10 years. It is alleged that the Migration Department made this decision after receiving some specific information about the activities of persons associated with “Hezbollah”.

According to ELTA, Linas Linkevičius, ForMin of Lithuania, has stated: „Assessing the information available to us and provided by our partners, we can state that “Hezbollah” is a terrorist organization that poses a threat to the security of many countries around the world, including Lithuania. We stand in solidarity with the US, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and other countries that have taken a similar position. We appreciate the successful cooperation between the Lithuanian and Israeli national security institutions. We thank these institutions for their important contribution to ensuring the security of our citizens.”

Lithuania’s move to pay very close attention to those suspected of belonging to “Hezbollah” is fair and meaningful. In such way official Vilnius is in solidarity with an influential ally of the US – Israel.

It is not for nothing that after the decision not to allow entrance or contacts with sympathizers of “Hezbollah”, Lithuania received the congratulations of Israeli ForMin Gabi Ashkenazi. This Israeli politician thanked the Lithuanian government for its decision to declare “Hezbollah” a terrorist organization based in Lebanon.

What are Turkey’s interests in Lebanon

However, in the Lithuanian public space, I did not notice any information whether Lithuania would have coordinated its steps with Turkey by providing financial support to Lebanon and considering which Lebanese might be worth sheltering. After all, we must know the opinion of an official Ankara, at least because Turkey is a member of NATO, our ally in this political-military Alliance of the North Atlantic Treaty.

ASALA

Figuratively speaking, Turkey’s opinion should be even more important to us than Israel’s. Especially since many organizations accused of terrorism have been operating in Lebanon for a long time and are still active today. “Hezbollah” is just one of them. Lebanon is also famous for having its strong holds here, “Daşnaksütun”, ASALA, whose representatives killed Turkish diplomats in Europe, the US and Australia just a few decades ago. Between 1975 and 2002, these terrorists carried out 235 attacks, 70 murders, 41 assassinations and 524 injuries in the West. 105 people were taken hostage, 12 of whom were killed. So does the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs knows what Turkey’s interests are in Lebanon, or are they taken into account?

Daşnaksütun

Another very important detail – the explosion of warehouses in the seaport region in Beirut has particularly affected three residential neighborhoods – Chad, Mar Michail, Bed Halil. They are called Armenian districts because many Armenians live there. Among them, there are likely to be those who support the activities of “Daşnaksütun”, ASALA and similar organizations. It cannot be ruled out that, under the guise of the disaster of August 4, some sympathizers of “Daşnaksütun” and ASALA will try to enter the EU by applying for a permanent residence permit, ask for financial benefits. It is possible that the representatives belonging to these organizations or sympathizing with them will try to enter Lithuania as well, that it could then harm Turkey from European capitals.

What is the official approach to “Daşnaksütun” and ASALA?

The version is that some sympathizers of “Daşnaksütun” and ASALA from Lebanon will try to enter Nagorno-Karabakh, which belongs to Azerbaijan but is currently controlled by Armenian separatists. In order to prepare military attacks against Azerbaijan from there, which, among other things, is unconditionally supported by Turkey, Lithuania’s ally in the NATO.

Therefore, I am questioning,  when will Lithuania declare as unacceptable organizations not only “Hezbollah”, which is causing Israel a headache, but also “Daşnaksütun”, ASALA and similar organizations that are harmful to Turkey?

We have muffed many times in judging Turkey. We behaved shamefully, for example, on December15,  2005, by adopting a Seimas resolution on the recognition of the genocide of the Armenian people. Ms. Irma Ąžuolė has noticed on the portal slaptai.lt that only about one third of the members of the Seimas participated in the anti-Turkish sitting at that time: 55 out of 141. The resolution was submitted, considered and adopted in one go, only ten minutes was enough for this. Only 49 members of the Seimas signed the draft resolution.

But the worst thing is not because of the half-empty meeting room and the rush. Most important is that this resolution sets us apart from our ally Turkey. It is also scandalous that at that time (and at present) no Lithuanian historian, politician or journalist had studied the documents stored in Turkish archives due to the events of 1915 in the Ottoman Empire. Lithuania was not even confused by the idea – after all, without seriously delving into the arguments of the other side, it is stupid to make accusations. Lithuania has not even wondered why the Turks had long ago opened their archives to foreign researchers, and Armenia still carefully hides them from outsiders (apparently it has something to hide). So, December 15, 2005, in my opinion, is one of the strangest days in Lithuanian politics. We signed an important document without even taking the problem seriously.

Lithuania’s next step is no less shameful – when the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences did not admit Turgut Kerem Tuncel, a senior analyst at the Eurasian Studies Center, on December 13 last year, accompanied by Gokhan Turan, Turkish Ambassador residing in Lithuania. The Turks wanted to read a report on the tragic events of 1915 in the Ottoman Empire. However, the Turkish scientist was prevented from presenting the Turkish position in the hall of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, justifying that the hall was needed for another unforeseen but very important event. Thus, we rejected Turkish scientists under the guise of primitive excuses, and the Armenian diplomats were admitted by the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences without hindrance.

This scandal, described in detail on the portal slaptai.lt by a journalist Gintaras Visockas, deserves serious analysis. If it were the other way around (the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences does not admit an Armenian ambassador because Armenia is not a member of NATO, and a Turkish ambassador is admitted because Turkey is a member of NATO), I would have better understanding. But I do not imagine the opposite, when Lithuania rejects its ally in the NATO alliance, although it is obvious.

With this in mind, I want to know when Lithuania will name “Daşnaksütun” and ASALA as terrorist organizations? At least I would like to understand whether Lithuania is aware of Turkey’s position on anti-Turkish organizations operating in Lebanon?

About the author

Vytautas Čepukas. Slaptai.lt foto

V. Čepukas was born in 1953 in Krasnoyarsk (Russia) in a political prisoner’s family. When he was 5 he was brought to Lithuania.

After Lithuania regained its independence, he participated in the activities of the Sąjūdis, and after the events of January 1991, he joined the Lithuanian Voluntary Service. In 1991, he defended the Lithuanian Parliament. In September of the same year, he started to serve as the Commander of the Utena Commandant Squad of the Lithuanian National Defense Department.

After that, he served in the training center of the military training; in 1993 he was appointed the commander of the SKAT 71st Battalion. From 2000 to 2003, he served as the commander of the Vilnius County KASP team.

He started his service in the Lithuanian Armed Forces from lieutenant degree. He ended his service  in 2003 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Awards:  Medal of the January 13, the volunteer creator, the Medal of the Star of Riflemen of the Lithuanian Armed Forces in the Diaspora of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union.

2020.08.22; 00:30