Atmosphere of unity and solidarity necessary to combat threat coming from Turkey and Azerbaijan – deputy vice speaker

It is enough to divide the country into republicans and anti-republicans, blacks and whites, Pashinyan's advocates and opponents vice speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Eduard Sharmazanov wrote in an article, referring to the regional developments.

“The other day a march dedicated to the 100th anniversary of liberation of Baku took place with the participation of Azerbaijani and Turkish presidents while what happened 100 years ago was occupation of Baku by Turkish troops. 100 years ago Turkish-Azerbaijani troops headed by Turkish Nuri pasha carried out pogroms in Baku killing Armenians and establishing Azerbaijani-Turkish Musavat power,” Sharmazanov wrote in his article.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev once again spoke of one nation two states concept, noting that Turkey and Azerbaijan should jointly fight against their enemies, claiming that the stronger is Turkey, the stronger is Azerbaijan.

In his turn Turkish president stated that Ankara is by Azerbaijan’s side in all its initiatives and noted that Armenia’s blockade will continue until the Armenian troops leave the territories.

“This is direct intervention into Karabakh conflict settlement process. We have stated many times that Turkey has nothing to do here. It is rather worrying that real occupant Turkey speaks of occupation and real executioner speaks of Khojalu pogroms,” Sharmazanov wrote, claiming that in conditions of such threatening geo-political developments it is necessary to assess the situation soberly. It is a challenge to Armenian and Karabakh Republics. “It registers the fact that in this new reality the number one threat for our country remains pan-Turkism which got a new and more dangerous definition in the mentioned military march,” the vice speaker stated.

“It is time for the Armenian authorities to stop the process of dividing the society and unite the nation. The security challenges are the most prior ones. We can have different positions and disagreements over domestic political situation, but we cannot ignore the external challenges,” he wrote.

“I say as a historian – today more than ever we need solidarity and unity and the country’s leader is to come up with such call. The Prime Minister must review his vision of dividing the society,” he stressed, adding that it is not time for populist statements but time to pick up lessons from history and correct them. “There is no other way. The only way is national unity, democracy and establishment of atmosphere of solidarity among people,” he said.