by Oui
Fri Jul 4th, 2025 at 07:28:24 PM EST
Little time for further research ...
Leaked Agreement On Zangezur Corridor Signals Russia's Waning Grip On South Caucasus | Kyiv Insider |
A tentative agreement
reported between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Türkiye on the long‑debated Zangezur Corridor marks a watershed moment in the South Caucasus--crystallizing a shift in regional power dynamics as Russia grapples with a faltering economy, its war in Ukraine, and diminishing influence.
Though officials in Yerevan, Baku, and Ankara have yet to confirm details, multiple sources--including Turkiye Today--describe a consensus that a direct rail and road passage will now connect Azerbaijan's mainland to its exclave Nakhchivan via Armenia's Syunik region, without Russian control over the route. The corridor promises to link Central Asia and China to Turkey and Europe, bypassing Moscow's traditional transport monopoly.
The corridor's potential opening is more than a transit deal. For Azerbaijan and Turkey, it represents a symbolic and economic coup: a practical expression of their "Central Corridor" ambition, aimed at wresting influence from Russia and Iran. For Armenia, cautiously embracing the plan might symbolize a move toward economic integration--while testing its sovereignty.
Turkey, rising as a Caucasus power, has already invested heavily in its segment of the route and may oversee construction and management. This cements Ankara's growing role, undercutting Russia's once-dominant offer of security and political patronage.
The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict: A Visual Explainer | Crisis Group |
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was actually the one that broke the myth of peaceful coexistence of Soviet Union nations. Up to that point, you could still be wondering how that diverse mix of nations could last for over 50 years without significant national conflicts. [Source: das monde @ET]
The visit of the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Azerbaijan has concluded | 4 July 2025 |
[Link: https://president.az/en/articles/view/69007]
ECO Week has kicked off in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, where delegates from 10 member states are preparing for the 17th ECO Summit on 3-4 July. Discussions will focus on youth empowerment, innovation and regional cooperation to shape the future.
Massoud Pezeshkian: Israel launched an illegal attack against Iran with the support of the US | APA Az - 4 July 2025 |
Israel has launched an illegal attack against Iran, which was supported by the US, said Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), APA’s correspondent dispatched to Khankandi reports.
[…]
Masoud Pezeshkian noted that the Economic Cooperation Organization, located at the border with China, Russia, and the Gulf, can play a significant role in organizing transit transport corridors.
The President of Iran proposed the establishment of the ECO Artificial Intelligence Center: “ECO has great tourism potential, and we can set KKKand achieve goals in this area by 2025.”
He emphasized that Iran would be honored to host the next Summit meeting.
History 5 years ago … 😄
Mysteries of the Failed Rebellion In Kazakhstan | MofA - 8 Jan. 2022 |
It is still a mystery what forces exactly are behind the rebellion in Kazakhstan. While I had presumed that it was a CIA operation it may have been outsourced to Britain's MI6. There are also still other possibilities.
The action seen over the last few days smelled strongly of a color revolution as typically instigated by the United States. The gangs which attacked police forces, set buildings on fire and stormed places where arms were stored seemed very well trained. They worked in formations and were obviously under someone's command. Some of them seemed to have been trained snipers as some shots hit policemen at longer distances.
Three of the policemen killed were beheaded which points to some Jihadi elements. Some are also said to have been foreigner and the size of the total force was estimated as up to a quite high 20,000. This has led to some speculate that these people came from Turkey where President Erdogan has used Jihadis from Syria for his foreign policy purposes. But for who's benefit would he do such in Kazakhstan?
Turkey is of course a member of NATO and will in the end do NATO's bidding. Russia ultimatum to 'keep NATO off Russia's border or else ...' might be reason enough for Washington DC to create trouble at Russia's southern boarder. When the U.S. fled from Afghanistan it tried to get new bases in Central Asia but was denied them by every government in the area. A regime change in Kazakhstan might put someone at the top who would allow a U.S. outpost. But who could that person be?
From the diaries …
- Almaty - Kazakhstan | 8 Jan. 2022 |
- Uyghur Muslim Ethnic Separatism in Xinjiang | 30 April 2021 |
Does remind me of the US and NATO allies designating Islamist fighters in Chechnya as "Freedom Fighters" in the civil war against the Russian Republic after 1990. As a result, EU countries have accepted up to 100,000 Chechen refugees or asylum seekers. More later.
The Russian government under Yeltsin and later Putin destroyed much of Grozny to root out terror of separatism and defeat the Sunni Jihadists from across the Islamic world. Not the Shia forces of Iran, but the Sunni fighters trained in Afghanistan and elsewhere by Western allies under leadership of the CIA and US Armed Forces.
