Diplomacy & Crisis News

Americans will now know what a lack of accountability means.

Masoud Pezeshkian will not cross the supreme leader.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated recently at the sidelines of the NATO Summit: “Over the last year, year and a half, Armenia and Azerbaijan have done very important work toward negotiating and concluding a peace agreement—one that is durable, one that is dignified and one that would open extraordinary possibilities for both countries, the region that they share and for their relationship with the United States.”

He added: “Today is an opportunity to take stock in the progress that has been made, what remains.  But based on the engagements that we have had, including in recent weeks, I believe both countries are very close to being able to reach a final agreement, one that the United States will strongly support.”

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and his Armenian counterpart met in Washington, DC with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the sidelines of the NATO Summit.   The ministers agreed to continue to work diligently to finalizing the peace agreement, which will bring to an end the conflict between both countries.   Both sides expressed their gratitude to Secretary Blinken for his role in facilitating dialogue between both countries.

Spokesman for the US State Department Matthew Miller also expressed his satisfaction with the meeting and stressed: “The Secretary also emphasized the importance of peace in promoting regional connectivity, which would benefit the entire South Caucuses region.”    Bayramov also “reiterated Azerbaijan’s commitment to the peace process” in an X post following the meeting.

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said that within a few months Azerbaijan and Armenia can lay the basic principles for a peace treaty, but a peace agreement can only be signed when Armenia changes its constitution “because it contains territorial claims against Azerbaijan.”   The Azerbaijani President believes that it is of pivotal importance to ending the conflict permanently that Armenia renounces all of its claims over Azerbaijani territory, implying that if the constitution is not changed, Armenia can always renege the peace agreement and wage conflict against Azerbaijan at a future date.  

Last February, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan did call for a new constitution.  However, his people have not taken kindly to the request they change their constitution, which presently affirms: “the December 1, 1989 declaration by the Supreme Council of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic that calls for unification of the Armenian SSR and Nagorno-Karabakh.”  

For this reason, Farid Shafiyev, Chair of the Baku-based Centre of Analysis of International Relations (AIR), has suggested that a commitment to amend the constitution within a year of signing, if included in an agreement, could also be acceptable but that timeframe could be too short.

He noted that Pashinyan still needs to engage the public further in informed discussion regarding the necessity and benefits of peace for that to happen.  Nevertheless, it should be noted that last May Armenia returned four villages to Azerbaijan that it occupied during the First Karabakh War, so perhaps one day it will happen that Armenia will change their constitution as well.  When there is a will, there is always a way forward.   

« Les ouvrages consacrés à l'extraordinaire expérience religieuse et sociale réalisée par les pères de la Compagnie de Jésus au Paraguay pendant plus d'un siècle et demi sont extrêmement nombreux », note Jean-Paul Duviols. En fallait-il vraiment un de plus ? Oui : car ce livre-ci est érudit et (...) / Histoire, Amérindiens, Religion - 2024/07

N'y a-t-il pas quelque chose d'hypocrite à notre surprise ? Une crise institutionnelle, le Rassemblement national premier parti de France, un « grand jeu » politique : la conjoncture des dernières semaines s'inscrit dans une histoire d'au moins quarante ans. / France, Politique, Élections, Extrême (...) / France, Politique, Élections, Extrême droite - 2024/07

« Les hommes politiques, les journalistes et les politologues parlent un langage qui n'est pas très éloigné du mien quand il ne le recouvre pas, voire le dépasse. Je me suis normalisé puisque tout le monde parle comme moi. » Jean-Marie Le Pen, France Inter, 16 avril 2002 « Loin de rompre avec l'Union (...) / Extrême droite, France, Politique - 2024/07

Comme d'autres travailleurs, les journalistes subissent l'externalisation de leurs tâches et le nivellement vers le bas de leurs conditions de travail. À force d'encourager la production d'articles standardisés, attendus, recopiés sur des dépêches d'agences, les entreprises de presse ont facilité le (...) / Capitalisme, Information, Médias, Informatique - 2024/07

Rapporter les images au plus près de l'action, le point de vue des manifestants plutôt que celui de la police : les reporters de rue ou « street reporters » contribuent depuis quinze ans à changer le regard sur les mouvements sociaux. Comment, et au prix de quelles contradictions, ces journalistes (...) / Médias, Mouvement de contestation, Presse, Répression, Audiovisuel - 2024/07

Les tribunaux internationaux se sont rarement trouvés à ce point sous le feu des projecteurs. Les deux procédures ouvertes à La Haye concernant Gaza — l'une contre l'État d'Israël, l'autre contre deux de ses dirigeants et ceux du Hamas — illustrent les fractures d'une géopolitique bouleversée. / Droit (...) / Droit international, Palestine, Relations internationales, Justice internationale, Géopolitique - 2024/07

In the wake of regional threats in the South Caucuses and Middle East, it is of pivotal importance for all of the Turkic countries to unite as part of a common NATO-like defense pact, where an attack on one member would be considered an attack on all.  Such a defense pact will strengthen the Turkic countries. 

The importance of having such a defense pact is great in light of Armenia’s thirty year occupation of Karabakh and the seven Azerbaijani districts in violation of four UN Security Council resolutions.   If such a defense pact was in place, Armenia would have thought twice before attacking Azerbaijan and illegally occupying an entire region for thirty years in defiance of the international community.   

The defense pact could initially include Azerbaijan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, all of which share common linguistic and cultural ties.  However, it can eventually expand to include all Turkic-speaking states.       

The fact that Turkey is part of NATO will help for the Turkic NATO to be enhanced both strategically and operationally, and model their organization effectively off of NATO.    However, this Turkic alliance would have to be careful to avoid an escalation from Iran in the wake of forming such a union, as such a union is a direct challenge to Iranian hegemony in the Middle East region.   Historically, the Ottoman and Persian Empires were rivals, and thus a Turkic NATO can be seen as a rival to the Shia Crescent, which Iran created and that presently includes Gaza, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Iran.    

Historically, in the Middle East, there are also other alliances that are similar to this and they have shaped our world.  For example, the Gulf Cooperation Council has a collective security mechanism and the Arab League Joint Defense Pact also serves a model.  The Turkic NATO would need to learn from these examples, thus ensuring strong political will, adequate funding, and effective coordination among member states.  

The proposal for a Turkic NATO, while ambitious, is grounded in the strategic need for enhanced regional security and cooperation among Turkic-speaking nations. With Azerbaijan potentially playing a leading role, bolstered by its recent military successes, the alliance could offer a new paradigm for regional stability. However, careful planning, substantial investment, and diplomatic finesse will be essential to navigate the complex geopolitical landscape and establish a viable and effective military alliance.

En pratique et dans l'imaginaire, les zones commerciales comme Aushopping sont un repère identitaire, un espace commun. Elles supplantent bon nombre de centres-villes agonisants aux boutiques abandonnées. Autour des espaces de la grande distribution, l'attractivité joue des représentations d'une (...) / Loisirs, Inégalités, Société - 2024/07

Fin juin 2023, la mort de Nahel Merzouk, un adolescent tué par un policier à Nanterre, a provoqué plusieurs nuits d'affrontements dans toute la France. À Montargis (quinze mille habitants), des centaines de jeunes ont dévasté les rues commerçantes. La politique d'embellissement du centre historique de (...) / Exclusion sociale, Ville, Inégalités, Drogue, Banlieue - 2024/07

Le manque de cadres et la défiance des milieux économiques ont souvent constitué un obstacle pour le Rassemblement national. Sa normalisation sur les questions fiscales, monétaires et européennes sonne comme un appel du pied à la classe dirigeante. Comment celle-ci réagit-elle ? / Capitalisme, (...) / Capitalisme, Extrême droite, Entreprise - 2024/07

L'annonce de la dissolution de l'Assemblée nationale le 9 juin conforte l'impression d'un chef de l'État aux décisions impulsives, erratiques et souvent désastreuses. / Géopolitique, France, Élections - 2024/07 / Géopolitique, France, Élections - 2024/07

En France, les aires métropolitaines ne cessent de s'étendre et, avec elles, les frontières invisibles entre ville-centre et périphérie. Pour relier l'une à l'autre, les trains express ont démontré leur efficacité partout en Europe mais ils tardent à se développer dans l'Hexagone, Paris excepté. Entre (...) / Transports, Ville, Inégalités - 2024/07

Le scrutin européen du 9 juin dernier n'a pas modifié les équilibres politiques au Parlement. Les droites nationalistes progressent mais restent désunies, libéraux et écologistes reculent, sociaux-démocrates et Parti populaire conservent leur position dominante. Mais derrière cette apparente (...) / Défense, Sécurité européenne, Élections - 2024/07

Avant le premier tour de l'élection présidentielle de 2002 : « Du groupe le plus défavorisé, on ne peut malheureusement pas toujours attendre une participation sereine à une démocratie parlementaire. Non pas qu'il se désintéresse de l'histoire, mais ses irruptions s'y manifestent parfois dans la (...) / Politique, Presse, France, Élections - 2024/07

En décidant d'imposer une modification du corps électoral en Nouvelle-Calédonie, M. Emmanuel Macron a embrasé l'archipel. La colère qu'elle a suscitée ne faiblit pas. La récente incarcération en métropole de sept militants indépendantistes l'a même attisée. Ayant pris fait et cause pour l'un des acteurs, (...) / Colonialisme, Violence, Décolonisation, France, Nouvelle-Calédonie - 2024/07

Smoke rises from the Israeli side after Palestinian Hamas gunmen infiltrated areas of southern Israel, as seen from Gaza, October 7, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Speaking at a conference titled “The World After October 7th,” which was organized by the European Association for the Defense of Democracies and the World Council for Public Diplomacy and Community Dialogue, Imam Hassen Chalgoumi stated: “October 7 was a turning point, comparable to the September 11 terror attacks.   The attacks by Hamas and their allies shocked not only Israel but the entire world.  It was a horrific crime, a massive massacre that changed the world.”

Following the October 7 Massacre, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Houthis in Yemen united under the Iranian umbrella in order to attack Israel.  Chalgoumi pointed out the growing alliance between various Islamist groups, including Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, and other extremist organizations. He stressed that these groups reveal the true nature of terrorism and pose a threat to global security. “These groups do not represent Islam,” he emphasized, “but are dangerous extremists undermining the stability of different regions.”

In Europe, Chalgoumi sees a troubling trend of increasing support for Islamist ideologies, often accompanied by support from far-left and far-right groups. He warned that this development is leading to more division and fear in Europe. “The rise of extremist parties on both sides is a threat to Europe’s unity and security,” he warned.

Chalgoumi called for concrete actions to combat extremism. He advocated for improved education, stronger legislation, and more support for moderate voices within the Muslim community. “We must invest in education and awareness,” he said. “Parents, teachers, and religious leaders play a crucial role in preventing radicalization.”

He also emphasized the importance of responsible media use and addressing online radicalization. “The propaganda on social media is powerful and dangerous,” Chalgoumi said. “We must protect young people from these influences by teaching them critical thinking and making them aware of the dangers.”

Chalgoumi concluded with a call for unity and cooperation. “It is time for us to come together and work towards a peaceful and stable future,” he said. “We can only overcome these challenges by working together and supporting each other.” 

Manel Msalmi, president of EADM and a women’s rights activist, noted the atrocities committed by Hamas against Israeli women and children on October 7, including the mass rapes of the living and the dead, and the sexual torture endured by the hostages.  She also noted the rise of antisemitic attacks in Europe, such as the recent rape of a 12-year-old Jewish girl by anti-Semites in France.   She stressed the need to fight against hate and extremism in the wake of the rise of far right and the far left during the elections. 

Across Europe, mainstream and left-leaning parties that have traditionally been strong supporters of democracy and minority rights have grown more critical of Israel and more sympathetic to the Continent’s growing antisemitism. Meanwhile, right-leaning parties, including some on the far right that have historically espoused antisemitism, are now more supportive of Israel and are taking a strong stand against Islamic extremism — albeit one often infused with racism and xenophobia.  This makes the plight of Jews in Europe more precarious than ever following the October 7 massacre.     

Azerbaijan recently hosted “French Polynesia’s Right to Decolonization: Challenges and Perspectives” inside of the Azerbaijani Parliament together with BIG, otherwise known as the Baku Initiative Group, whose stated aim is to support “French liberation and anti-colonialist movements.”  The group’s executive director Abbas Abbasov, who met the Polynesian delegation at the sidelines of the conference, vowed “continued support of the fair struggle of peoples seeking liberation from colonialism.”  

“We are isolated today due to the colonial policy of France,” the party’s secretary general, Victor Maamaatuaiahutapu, told the conference.  “Politically, we are a young nation, and we need Azerbaijan’s support,” he added. “France seeks to isolate us because it wants to continue nuclear tests on our territory.”  Huseynly said the “imperfection of international legal mechanisms hampers the liberation of French colonies”.

MP Zahid Oruj, Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis (Parliament), highlighted that BIG, established on July 6, 2023, in Baku, marks the beginning of a new wave against exploitation that has affected regions including the Caribbean, South America, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans for over 150 years.

“We believe that this movement will be successful and will finally give the oppressed peoples the freedom they deserve. By ending the 44-day war with victory, we have become a shining, unparalleled example for oppressed peoples around the world. The brilliant victory of Azerbaijan plays an important role in the revival of the Polynesian movement for independence. Neo-colonialism is doomed,” he declared.

Azerbaijani MP Nizami Safarov highlighted that the decolonization discourse is far from over for many regions of the world: “French Polynesia remains a stark example, with the French government only establishing a compensation commission for nuclear testing in 2010. Despite the devastating impact of these tests, including increased radiation-related illnesses, French President Emmanuel Macron has yet to issue an official apology.”    

The Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) concurs with Azerbaijan that French Polynesia should be liberated from French colonialism.  A public statement adopted by the Central Committee calls on French authorities “to fulfil their obligations and provide all necessary means for the economic, social and cultural development of the Maohi people” and “urges France to compensate all those affected by nuclear testing and radioactivity” in the vicinity.  It also invites Christians everywhere to pray “for the people and the churches of Maohi Nui as they embark on their peaceful and just struggle for self-determination.”

In 2013, the UN General Assembly voted to add French Polynesia to its list of territories that should be decolonized, affirming the right of the islands’ inhabitants to “self-determination and independence”. French Polynesia joined 16 other territories on the decolonization list, including the British-ruled Falkland Islands and the US Virgin Islands. The UN resolution called on the French government to “facilitate rapid progress” towards self-determination. It was passed by consensus in the 193-member UN assembly.