MP Paylan: Turkey is the only country that invites to war

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With a history of over 30 years, the territorial dispute between neighboring countries Azerbaijan and Armenia in the Caucasus has recently turned into a conflict. While the conflicts between the two countries have been ongoing for three days, the allegations that Turkey has been sending fighters to the region has been widely reported in the international press.

When we ask Garo Paylan, the Diyarbakır MP of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), about these allegations, he stresses that the conflicts are threatening the entire region and makes a call for peace.

It is alleged that Turkey has sent fighters to the region. Azerbaijan has officially denied these allegations. Is there anything that you have heard about this issue?

International agencies have shared images about it and there are also several allegations. It is -of course, the government of Azerbaijan and the government in Turkey that will clarify these allegations.

I submitted a Parliamentary question about this issue to the Presidency and asked whether these allegations were true or not. We are expecting a statement about these allegations first from our own government and then from the government of Azerbaijan.

'Turkey is the only country that supports the war'

What would you like to say about Turkey's attitude so far?

The whole world is trying to stop this conflict, tension or the situation that has culminated in war. Everyone is making a call for a ceasefire and calm.

But there is a single state in the world and this state is inviting to war. This country is -unfortunately- the country where I am a citizen and MP: Turkey.

Turkey has to take a step back from this attitude and be on the side of peace. Turkey is also a country which is a member of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group. In other words, it is one of the countries that is responsible for establishing peace in Karabakh.

Moreover, it must not take the side of the war or take a side between two conflicting neighbor countries. One of the responsibilities of Turkey is to stand on the side of the truth.

For days, it has been alleged that the Armenian forces in Karabakh attacked Azerbaijan. In fact, there is no reason for Armenia to attack. It is Azerbaijan and Turkey that want to change this situation.

In that sense, I think there is a misunderstanding and it is done with the aim of stirring nationalism and racism.

'Conflict threatens the entire region'

What do you think will happen in the upcoming period. The United Nations (UN) is holding an emergency meeting today...

I think the conflicts need to stop quickly and they will do so. Because if the entire world does not want a war and only Azerbaijan and Turkey want it, that war has no sustainability.

All parties must secure a ceasefire and then take steps for the conditions of peace. I expect this conflict to end as soon as possible.

Because the conflict has been threatening the stability of the entire Caucasus and the entire region. There are also both our Azerbaijani and Armenian citizens in Turkey.

Racism has escalated sharply, which might lead to several hate crimes. I am concerned for this reason.

I hope that the conflicts will stop as soon as possible.

'Government is responsible for the provocation'

Last night, a group of people gathered in front of the Armenian Patriarchate in Kumkapı, İstanbul. Do you think that this recent course of events has already led to a tension between Armenian and Azerbaijani communities in Turkey, as you have also indicated?

The demonstration in front of the Armenian Patriarchate is a serious provocation. Who allows this to happen is the government and especially the Ministry of Interior. And they are responsible for this provocation. Such provocations, especially around religious institutions must never be allowed.

I am calling on the government to assume responsibility. The policy of hate needs to be abandoned first so that these provocations can be stopped.

Hate speech leads to such hate crimes.

Paylan's questions to the Presidency

In his Parliamentary question addressed to the Presidency, HDP MP Garo Paylan has asked the following questions about the issue:

1. Why do you add fuel to the war in Karabakh?
2. While the whole world is making a call for a ceasefire, why are you making a call for war?
3. Haven't you understood that a racist foreign policy makes everyone lose?
4. Do you support the war in order to sell more arms to Azerbaijan?
5. There are allegations that jihadists are sent to Azerbaijan by Turkey from Syria? Are these allegations true?
6. Are there times when you remember that you are a member of the OSCE Minsk Group established to ease the tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan?
7. Haven't you understood that the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan increases the Russian dominance in the region?
8. While we have Azerbaijani and Armenian citizens, why do you see the Azerbaijanis as brothers and sisters and Armenians as enemies?
9. Are you aware that your hate speech targeting the Armenian community turns our Armenian citizens into targets? (PT/SD)