Azerbaijan human rights abuses

http://humanrightscolumbia.org/peace-building/atrocities-artsakh-nagorno-karabakh

The Program on peace building and human rights at Columbia University has published a report (see the link above) on human rights violations perpetrated by Azerbaijan against Armenia. Azerbaijani aggression (with the backing of Turkey) was responsible for the war with Armenia. The failure of the international community to hold Azerbaijan and Turkey accountable may have set a precedent for Greece.

As Turkish aggression remains a problem for both Greece and Cyprus, Athens needs to examine the injustice suffered by the Armenians. Nagorno Karabakh is a territory with an Armenian majority and is rightly ruled by the Armenians. Armenians refuse to be led by any Turkish Republics and have fought hard to maintain Armenian rule over Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Armenians however did not receive the kind of support they needed from either the United States or Russia. This indicates that Turkey is still immune from any real pressure despite the triumph of radical jihadism in Turkey, and despite the fact that Turkey and Azerbaijan have cooperated closely with Syrian jihadists. Greece has to keep in mind that neither of the great powers appears willing at this point to challenge Turkey.

Greece must begin using diplomatic leverage to pressure Washington and Moscow to stop supporting Turkey. Recently, Russian Orthodox priests went so far as to bless the nuclear power plant that Russia has helped to build in Turkey. The whole Church question in Ukraine has complicated Greek-Russian relations but the Russians should be a little more sensitive to the plight of Armenian and Greek Christians who are on the receiving end of Turkish expansionism and aggression.

Greece closest friend and ally is Armenia. Greek officials use their influence (assuming they have any) at the European Union to lobby on behalf of the Armenian cause in the caucuses and to condemn Azerbaijani aggression. The government in Baku made its own hostility to Greece apparent when the Greek Ambassador presenting his credentials to the host country’s President was insulted and derided. The Azerbaijani President made clear that Azerbaijan supported Turkey in all conflicts with Greece.

Greece should be using its leverage with Washington and Moscow not only to promote Greek issues, but Armenian issues as well. Greek and Armenian interests coincide both nations are likely to suffer the same fate in the event that Turkish ambitions are ever realized at the expense of Greece, Cyprus, and Armenia.