Arie Gut: “Gyurjiyan's case to the music of the chauvinist Solovyov. "Voice of Armenia": Anti-Semitism of Aryeh Guta. Whose interests are protected by the “independent expert”

BAKU / News-Azerbaijan. Thanks to successful geopolitical and geo-economic initiatives, Azerbaijan has become the most powerful state and leader of the region, without the participation and consent of which not a single political, economic, transport issue can be resolved in this strategic region of the world, which is the South Caucasus. In the multi-vector foreign policy of Azerbaijan special place The State of Israel also has. The recent first historic official visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Baku once again confirmed that, without any doubt, relations between Israel and Azerbaijan are in the nature of a strategic partnership.

This was stated in an interview with the program "Live" by the Israeli Internet channel "IllandTV" international center in the State of Israel, a well-known Israeli expert in the field international relations Arie Gut.

According to Gut, Israel has always treated Azerbaijan with great attention and warmth.

"There has never been and there is no anti-Semitism in this country, and official Baku has repeatedly condemned and condemns any manifestations of anti-Semitism in other countries. It is not in vain that starting his state visit to Azerbaijan, the head of the Israeli government highly appreciated the factor of multiculturalism and tolerance in Azerbaijan, where "special and sincere attention is paid to the Jewish community of Azerbaijan. In turn, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev noted that the Jews of Azerbaijan play an important and invaluable role in the social and political life of Azerbaijan, as well as in the popularization of Azerbaijan in the world," said Arie Gut.

Gut stressed that it is quite clear that such sincere and warm relations between Israel and Azerbaijan cannot but cause irritation in neighboring Armenia.

"After the April events of 2016, we are really seeing anti-Israeli hysteria in Armenia, even in Israel, the Armenian community held protest rallies against the Azerbaijani-Israeli partnership. Regarding criticism of Armenia, I would say that Azerbaijan and Israel choose their own friends and partners, and it is these "countries themselves determine the level of strategic cooperation in the military-technical field. And no one has the right to interfere in this. Azerbaijan does not ask why there are military bases of a third state on the territory of Armenia, and what kind of military assistance this country provides to the Republic of Armenia" - noted Arie Gut.

Within the framework of the program, the leader David Cohn noted that the Armenian website Armenian Report openly promotes anti-Semitism and anti-Israelism, and even calls for the destruction of the state of Israel.

In particular, the publication writes: “We need to work even more closely with Iran, with Arab paramilitary groups and organizations that are strongly opposed to Israel. For this, the Armenian government should actively involve Armenians living in the Middle East with close ties to Hezbollah, the Islamic Jihad, Hamas, especially with the Izzaddin al-Qasam Brigades. Our diaspora organizations in the Middle East need to start funding these organizations that promise to destroy Israel."

According to Gut, it is not surprising that a country that has made anti-Semitism and fascism part of its national ideology will support such terrorist movements as Hezbollah and Hamas.

“We remember very well how the Armenian terrorist organization ASALA worked closely with the Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah. In December 2013, the US Central Intelligence Agency, acting under the Freedom of Information Act, declassified its 1984 report on Armenian terrorist groups. This report was spoke of the ASALA organization as a terrorist threat for US interests. And although it was noted that most ASALA attacks were carried out against Turkish diplomats, several objects Western Europe and the US was also hit. In addition, US intelligence was alarmed by the marked increase in contacts with Libya, Syria and the terrorist organization Hezbollah in last years. This report also reflected the Western European countries' policy of double standards, as "some Western European countries have reached an agreement with ASALA, giving freedom to terrorists to pursue Turkish targets in exchange for promises not to attack the native citizens of these countries." In total, according to American intelligence, as a result of the terrorist activities of ASALA and JCAG since 1975, 50 Turkish officials and citizens have been killed, more than 200 explosions have been carried out," Arie Gut emphasized.

The expert noted that in a country where anti-Semitism and fascism have become the state ideology, in a country that ranks first in anti-Semitism in post-Soviet space, calls for the destruction of the state of Israel can be considered part of the national ideology.

"Everyone is well aware that Armenia is the most mono-ethnic country, where chauvinism, nationalism, glorification of fascists and anti-Semites have become an integral part of public policy the Sargsyan regime. It is worth emphasizing that the cult of these bloodthirsty fascists and anti-Semites is not carried out by the forces of some marginal political groups, the state is behind these actions, but rather the criminal terrorist leadership modern Republic Armenia. The fact that Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan participated in the opening ceremony of the monument to the fascist and anti-Semite General Garegin Nzhdeh confirms once again that they consider themselves the real and true heirs of the Armenian fascist and anti-Semite Nzhdeh. History and the Jewish people will never forget the cruelty of the 20,000-strong Armenian legion during the Second World War, one of the founders of which was the fascist Nzhdeh. There are historical facts that are confirmed by archival documents. The goal of the Armenian legion, led by General Nzhdeh, was to raid and exterminate Jews and others "undesirable" for the German army. It is thanks to the Armenian legion that Simferopol, Evpatoria, Alushta, Kerch and Feodosia, as well as other areas Western Crimea were completely purged of Jews. After that, can we look indifferently at how in modern Armenia they exalt the Armenian fascist and anti-Semite to the rank of a national hero? And after that Armenians teach us Israelis about conscience, morality and justice. And after that, some "Jewish" leaders of Armenia will prove to me that there is no anti-Semitism and hatred towards Jews and Israelis in Armenia," Aryeh Gut said.

Unlike Armenia, multiculturalism and tolerance have become a way of life in Azerbaijani society.

"No country on the territory of Eurasia has such close and warm relations with Israel as the Republic of Azerbaijan. Without any doubt, relations between Israel and Azerbaijan are in the nature of a strategic partnership. Israel has always treated Azerbaijan with great attention and warmth. Israel has repeatedly declared its respect and support for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.Israel is one of the main buyers of Azerbaijani oil in the world.In turn, Azerbaijan needs modern Israeli high technologies in agriculture, military industry, telecommunications, and the list goes on.At the same time, our countries are promoting educational, humanitarian and cultural projects," Gut said.

According to the expert, Israel highly appreciates the role of the leadership of modern Azerbaijan in a warm and sincere attitude towards the 20,000 Jewish community.

"As a result of the bloody Armenian aggression, 20 percent of the territory of Azerbaijan is occupied by Armenia, and every 7th inhabitant in the country is a refugee. Azerbaijan is a model of inter-civilizational dialogue. I do not get tired of repeating every time: show me one more country - Muslim or Christian, where under the patronage President, two synagogues and the largest Jewish educational center in the South Caucasus were built.Azerbaijan - unique country which comprehensively supports the development of the ideas of tolerance and multiculturalism at the state level real deeds. I think you simply will not find another country like this," summed up the head of the representative office of the Baku International Center in the State of Israel.

The newspaper “Golos Armenii” in its issue of December 23 writes: “The scandal around the involvement of official Baku in anti-Semitic activities in Europe, in particular, incitement to organize and finance anti-Israeli actions in France, has received a somewhat unexpected development. However, unexpected only for those who are unfamiliar with the habits and habits of Azerbaijani propaganda.

Unable to oppose anything to the flow of irrefutable facts given in a number of publications on this topic in the world media (for example, the headline in the Russian-language American edition of Reporter sounded like this: "The presidential administration of Azerbaijan is financing anti-Semitic demonstrations in France"), in Baku out of habit found nothing better than to act on the principle of being a fool himself. And they went the beaten path, ordering and paying for the publication of articles in a number of American media, the authors of which accuse Armenia of anti-Semitism.

The Voice of Armenia has repeatedly addressed the topic of the scandal unfolding in Strasbourg around the European Information and Human Rights Center, created by journalist Eynulla Fatullayev on behalf of Ali Hasanov, head of the socio-political department of the presidential administration of Azerbaijan. With reference to former employees of the center, we wrote that, under the guise of human rights protection, the Azerbaijani government organizes and sponsors from the state budget in different countries ah Europe anti-Semitic and extremist actions, as well as reprinted publications on this topic from various media. Naturally, Aliyev's administration again saw in all this the long hand of the Armenian lobby. And they decided to take revenge.

As a result, an article titled "Anti-Semitism in Armenia: a Direct and Clear Threat" appeared on the website of one of the American publications. They also found a congressman who also condemned Armenia for "anti-Semitism and ethnic cleansing." The website of the Congress even flaunts his remark, in which he importantly warns members of the House of Representatives about the "actual danger" of anti-Semitism in Armenia, citing the specified article. And this is exactly the case when the trivial "look who said!" suggests itself, leading to equally trivial, and in the case of azeroprop - eloquent conclusions.

First, about Congressman Stephen Stockman, who suddenly "concerned" with the problems of the Jews, and along the way with "ethnic cleansing" in Armenia. We will not dwell on the biography of this politician, in which there are quite a few facts discrediting him. Let's address only one, which has a direct connection with what this congressman accuses Armenia of. The fact is that just over a year ago, Stockman himself was accused of anti-Semitism, and by one of the most influential Jewish organizations in the United States - the Anti-Defamation League. Last August, he took part in a radio show by the Pro-Militia Conspiracy Theorist Group, which is known for its anti-Semitic rhetoric (suffice it to say that it denies the Holocaust). The promiscuity of the congressman, thirsting for popularity at any cost, led to a sharp condemnation of him by the ADL, after which the trickster did not find anything better than to call himself ... a "Christian Jew." Baku propagandists, who again got into a puddle with American clients of caviar diplomacy, can only be advised to be more careful when selecting candidates. Although, on the other hand, after a series of scandals that erupted in the United States around paid Azerbaijani lobbyists, it is unlikely that any decent politician will agree to cooperate with this country.

Let's turn now to the author of the article. This is none other than Arie Gut - now an Israeli citizen, a native of Baku, who for some reason left this "most tolerant city in the world", but found a gold mine in the form of cooperation with Azerprop. The mere fact that Gut is a member of the board of the Israel-Azerbaijan International Association and personally admitted to belonging to the Azerbaijani diaspora of Israel (http://vs.ananun.am/?p=11959) already characterizes him as not neutral and objective , but, on the contrary, a biased and too interested expert. This person actively participates in all Azerbaijani actions carried out in Israel, and consistently makes not only Armenophobic, but also militaristic statements, arguing, for example, that there is no other way to liberate the occupied territories, except for the military one. Finally, Gut is one of those expert analysts who have long and very widely used in their analyzes the worn-out clichés of Azerbaijani propaganda, especially on the issue of Khojaly falsifications. It is unlikely that against the background of all this, anyone can have doubts about whose order Gut is fulfilling on the issue of "anti-Semitism" in Armenia.

It makes no sense to parse his writings, not only because it is a pity for newspaper space, but also for time. How, for example, to comment on the statement "in just 20 years, the Jewish population of Armenia has decreased from 5,000 to several hundred people", which does not hold water against the background of the fact that the population of Armenia as a whole has significantly decreased over 20 years due to emigration, and first of all Armenians. Another issue is that the article simply smelled of mothballs: the most recent of the meager number of facts cited in it dates back to 2010, moreover, the stream of consciousness took Mr. Gut even back to the distant years of Levon Ter-Petrosyan's rule. The reason is simple: there is no new evidence of what Arya Gut is trying so hard to prove. So, for solidity, he has to spice up the article with accusations of Armenians in "ethnic cleansing of Azerbaijanis" and in "genocide in Khojaly." And thus with the head to give out not only their own engagement, but also the customer of the article.

However, Gut did find one fresh fact - the report of the Anti-Defamation League, published in June 2014, which states that the level of anti-Semitism in Armenia reaches 58%. At that time, this indicator aroused violent indignation among the Jews living in our country. The report also cited figures for Azerbaijan - 37%, to which Arie Gut replied, saying that, they say, "in Azerbaijan - the most tolerant country in the world - there has never been anti-Semitism", but "another matter is Armenia, which, according to the report, is leader in terms of anti-Semitism in the CIS countries. The head of the Jewish community of Armenia, Rimma Varzhapetyan, then gave a worthy answer to Gut. We note that such a selective attitude to the data of the same document only once again proves the custom nature of the activities of the Israeli expert.

Meanwhile, the press - and not the Armenian one at that - repeatedly cited facts proving the existence of serious anti-Semitic sentiments in Azerbaijan. Suffice it to say that Israel has been advising its citizens at the official level over the past few years to refrain from traveling to this "most tolerant country in the world." Expert comments constantly appear in the Azerbaijani press, calling Azerbaijan's rapprochement with Israel a "negative factor" and accusing the Mountain Jews living in this country of separatism. Messages were repeatedly published about manifestations of anti-Semitism in Azerbaijan and on the websites of Jewish organizations and publications, which noted that they were associated with the manifestation of Islamic solidarity towards the Palestinians. And during the period of aggravation in the spring of 2010 of relations between Israel and Turkey - during the period of the Israeli-Turkish confrontation around the "Freedom Flotilla" - mass anti-Israeli actions and speeches took place in Baku and other cities of Azerbaijan.

Let us return, however, to Mr. Gut. And let us turn his precious attention to phenomena that should greatly disturb the ardent defender of Jewish interests. By the way, unlike the hopelessly outdated facts he uses, this is the latest information. Just a couple of days ago, on December 17, an article by Jewish businessman Mois Gabay was published in Shalom, a Jewish newspaper in Istanbul. "We face daily threats, harassment and attacks. Hope is fading. Is the death of the new Hrant Dink really necessary for the government, opposition, civil society and lawyers to see this?" - writes Gabay, noting that a significant number of Jews are planning to leave Turkey with their families. And he cites the following data: 37% of Jewish graduates of Turkish schools prefer to go abroad for higher education, and this figure, according to Gabay, has doubled in recent years. As the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet points out in this regard, the article was published after another anti-Semitic antics in Turkey. "A few weeks ago, the Neve Shalom synagogue in Istanbul was desecrated. And at the end of November, the governor of the province of Edirne, Dursum Shahin, announced that the restored city synagogue would be turned into a museum in response to regular clashes between Arabs and Jews," the publication reports.

This is where, it would seem, the immense field for the activities of Aryeh Gut! But the defender of Jewish interests and a member of the Azerbaijani diaspora of Israel is silent in a rag - still, we are talking about the elder brother of Azerbaijan. Turkey cannot be touched, so the "independent analyst", as he is lovingly called in Baku, is forced to surf the Internet in search of evidence of anti-Semitism in Armenia instead of raising his righteous voice against the oppression of compatriots in Turkey. Or sharply condemn the active anti-Israeli activity of the same Baku in Europe (see the beginning of the article). But Gut is paid not for protecting the interests of Jews, but for exemplary work as a staff member of Azerprop. Why should he climb on the rampage, when everything is clear to everyone without that?

The scandal surrounding the involvement of official Baku in anti-Semitic activities in Europe, in particular, inciting to organize and finance anti-Israeli actions in France, has received a somewhat unexpected development. However, unexpected only for those who are unfamiliar with the habits and habits of Azerbaijani propaganda.

UNABLE TO RESPOND TO THE STREAM OF IRONG FACTS, cited in a number of publications on this topic in the world media (for example, the headline in the Russian-language American publication Reporter sounded like this: "The presidential administration of Azerbaijan finances anti-Semitic demonstrations in France"), out of habit, Baku did not find anything better than to act on the principle i'm a fool. And they went the beaten path, ordering and paying for the publication of articles in a number of American media, the authors of which accuse Armenia of anti-Semitism.

"GA" has repeatedly addressed the topic of the scandal unfolding in Strasbourg around the European Information and Human Rights Center, created by journalist Eynulla Fatullayev on behalf of Ali Hasanov, head of the socio-political department of the presidential administration of Azerbaijan. With reference to former employees of the center, we wrote that, under the guise of human rights protection, the Azerbaijani government organizes and sponsors anti-Semitic and extremist actions from the state budget in different European countries, and also reprinted publications on this topic from various media. Naturally, Aliyev's administration again saw in all this the long hand of the Armenian lobby. And they decided to take revenge.

FIRST ABOUT CONGRESSMAN STEVEN STOCKMAN, SUDDENLY"preoccupied" with the problems of the Jews, and along the way with "ethnic cleansing" in Armenia. We will not dwell on the biography of this politician, in which there are quite a few facts discrediting him. Let's address only one, which has a direct connection with what this congressman accuses Armenia of. The fact is that just over a year ago, Stockman himself was accused of anti-Semitism, and by one of the most influential Jewish organizations in the United States - the Anti-Defamation League. Last August, he took part in a radio show by the Pro-Militia Conspiracy Theorist Group, which is known for its anti-Semitic rhetoric (suffice it to say that it denies the Holocaust). The promiscuity of the congressman, thirsting for popularity at any cost, led to a sharp condemnation of him by the ADL, after which the trickster did not find anything better than to call himself ... a "Christian Jew." Baku propagandists, who again got into a puddle with American clients of caviar diplomacy, can only be advised to be more careful when selecting candidates. Although, on the other hand, after a series of scandals that erupted in the United States around paid Azerbaijani lobbyists, it is unlikely that any decent politician will agree to cooperate with this country.

HOWEVER, ONE FRESH FACT GUT ALL THESE FOUND - REPORT Anti-Defamation League, published in June 2014, which claims that the level of anti-Semitism in Armenia reaches 58%. At that time, this indicator aroused violent indignation among the Jews living in our country. The report also cited numbers for Azerbaijan - 37%, to which Arie Gut replied, saying that, they say, "in Azerbaijan, the most tolerant country in the world, there has never been anti-Semitism", but "another matter is Armenia, which, according to the report, is leader in terms of anti-Semitism in the CIS countries. The head of the Jewish community of Armenia, Rimma Varzhapetyan, then gave a worthy answer to Gut. We note that such a selective attitude to the data of the same document only once again proves the custom nature of the activities of the Israeli expert.

BACK, HOWEVER, TO MR GUT. AND PAY HIS PRECIOUS ATTENTION TO THE PHENOMENA which should have greatly disturbed the ardent defender of Jewish interests. By the way, unlike the hopelessly outdated facts he uses, this is the latest information. Just a couple of days ago, on December 17, an article by Jewish businessman Mois Gabay was published in Shalom, a Jewish newspaper in Istanbul. "We face daily threats, harassment and attacks. Hope is fading. Is the death of the new Hrant Dink really necessary for the government, opposition, civil society and lawyers to see this?" - writes Gabay, noting that a significant number of Jews are planning to leave Turkey with their families. And he cites the following data: 37% of Jewish graduates of Turkish schools prefer to go abroad for higher education, and this figure, according to Gabay, has doubled in recent years. As the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet points out in this regard, the article was published after another anti-Semitic antics in Turkey. "A few weeks ago, the Neve Shalom synagogue in Istanbul was desecrated. And at the end of November, the governor of the province of Edirne, Dursum Shahin, announced that the restored city synagogue would be turned into a museum in response to regular clashes between Arabs and Jews," the publication reports.

This year, the Azerbaijani army is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its creation. The history of the Azerbaijani army was laid down by the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the first parliamentary republic in the entire Islamic world. The first proposal to create a national army in Azerbaijan was made after the collapse of Russian Empire at the Congress of Muslims of the Caucasus, which was held in 1917 and where it was decided to create a special bureau for the organization of Muslim detachments, the site reports.

A well-known Israeli expert in the field of international relations Arye Gut wrote about this in the influential Israeli English-language newspaper The Jerusalem Post in his article “Today Azerbaijan celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijani army.”

As the author of the article writes, after the proclamation of the ADR on May 28, 1918, the military division consisted of 600 volunteers. “In this situation, of course, Azerbaijan did not have the opportunity to defend its independence and prevent the attacks of the Baku Commune in Ganja. In such a situation, the only country that could help Azerbaijan was Turkey. To this end, the Chairman of the Government of Azerbaijan, Fatali Khan Khoyski, asked the Turkish government for military assistance.

The first de facto Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan was Dr. Khosrov Sultanov. After the ministry was formed, Samad bey Mehmandarov became the minister, and General Ali Aga Shikhlinsky became his deputy. military spending state budget ADR governments accounted for 24% percent and were directed to create a national army of 25,000 people. At the end of 1919, the Azerbaijani army consisted of two infantry and one cavalry divisions. In addition, two artillery batteries and a special division were created in Ganja. At the beginning of 1920, it was planned to increase the number of soldiers to 40,000 people, to mobilize young people aged 19-24. It was planned to purchase 5 tanks, 12 hydroplanes, 6 airplanes in order to strengthen the Armed Forces,” the Israeli expert notes.

The article notes that in September 1919, the British journalist Scotland Liddle visited Baku and described his impressions: “When I was traveling to Baku, I thought I would see chaos ... however, I met hundreds of Azerbaijani soldiers, but these were not the same soldiers with whom I met two years ago. The Azerbaijani army was formed quickly and, of necessity, correctly. Azerbaijan understood that without discipline the army simply would not survive. The iron discipline that I saw in Azerbaijan is not even discipline in Russia,” the British journalist notes.

Aryeh Gut stresses with regret that Major General Javad Bey Shikhlinsky, General Muhammed Mirza Gajar, Minister of Defense Khosrov Sultanov, Minister of Internal Affairs Behbud Javanshir died in a bloody massacre against the XI Red Army in Ganja, defending independence and territorial integrity. Official studies show that Dashnak-Bolshevik terrorism destroyed 12 generals, 27 colonels and lieutenant colonels, 46 captains and 266 officers of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

Gut writes in his article that after the collapse Soviet Union and restoration of state independence by decision Supreme Council Azerbaijan On October 9, 1991, the Ministry of Defense was established and the formation of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan was announced. However, by the decree of President Heydar Aliyev in May 1998, this day was annulled and instead of this day, July 26 was declared the Day of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, as the heir to the ADR.

At the very beginning of the path of Azerbaijani statehood, the Azerbaijani army consisted of volunteer detachments. This chaos ended after Heydar Aliyev returned to power in Azerbaijan in June 1993. As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev began the process of reviving the army. Self-defense detachments and volunteer battalions were abolished, thus President Heydar Aliyev created the foundations of a regular Azerbaijani army under a single command system.

In early 1994, the Azerbaijani army carried out a military operation in the Horadiz direction of the Fizuli region against the occupying forces of Armenia. After that, a ceasefire was announced in May 1994, which created the possibility of a stable formation of the Azerbaijani army on a regular basis,” AzerTAj quotes Aryeh Guta.

The Israeli expert emphasizes in the article that the fundamental indicators of today's modern Azerbaijan are stability, economic development, the formation of a strong modern army. “The strengthening and constant growth of the economic power of Azerbaijan over the past 15 years have contributed to the strengthening and consolidation of the Azerbaijani army. Expenses of the state budget of Azerbaijan have increased several times, which raised the potential of the army to the highest level in all areas. The constituent components of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces - the Ministry of Defense, the military units of the State Security Service, the Ministry of Emergency Situations continue their successful development.

Considering the fact of the Armenian occupation and the ongoing state of war with Armenia, the Republic of Azerbaijan is strengthening its military potential. The Commander-in-Chief of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, President Ilham Aliyev constantly visits military bases, meets with soldiers and officers who serve in the war zone and are one of the main factors in strengthening the Azerbaijani army. The military superiority of Azerbaijan over Armenia did not happen overnight. Over the past 15 years, the leadership of Azerbaijan has been strengthening the economic potential of the country and creating conditions for the formation of a strong and modern army, which is one of the important factors determining the success and development of each country. Today's modern technologically strong army plays a crucial role in strengthening and developing independence and turning the country into an important geopolitical pivot in the region,” emphasizes Arie Gut in his article.

The author of the article notes that President Ilham Aliyev made clear his vision of this issue: “In all areas, we must strive to contribute to the development of our army. In recent years, we have done a great job of strengthening logistics, technical renovation, purchasing the most modern weapons, and today the Azerbaijani army is one of the strongest armies in the region. Armenia cannot and will not be able to compete with us. We have historical justice on our side, international law, we have economic strength, military power, the spirit of patriotism. The April victories, the Nakhchivan victories once again strengthen the patriotic spirit of our army and people, once again convince the Azerbaijani people that they can be completely calm, the Azerbaijani army is capable and ready to fulfill any task,” the President of Azerbaijan emphasizes.

Arie Gut notes in his article that the strong economic development, the increase in Azerbaijani budget revenues have allowed the country to increase military spending by 7 times over the past 5 years. “However, army building activities are not limited to the use of economic resources. Close and fruitful cooperation with NATO is aimed at quickly improving the formation of the army, modernizing the Armed Forces and bringing them into line with modern international standards. Of course, the main goal of official Baku is to restore the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, to liberate the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 adjacent regions under the occupation of the Republic of Armenia. Significant progress has been made towards this crucial phase, and the process is ongoing. Observations show that Azerbaijan has entered this phase in order to change the status quo and further strengthen its potential military superiority”, writes an Israeli expert.

Aryeh Gut notes that the Russian Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies confirms the Azerbaijani military superiority over Armenia, emphasizing that in 2016 the size of the Azerbaijani army was 126,000 people, as opposed to Armenia, whose army is 45,000. “In recent years in Azerbaijan in large quantities modern tanks were purchased, combat vehicles, air force systems, anti-tank missile and artillery systems and drones. New military capabilities and technological superiority were demonstrated during the April 2016 battles. These military actions have really demonstrated that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, equipped with the most modern military technology, have a real superiority in combat operations,” writes an Israeli expert in The Jerusalem Post.

The author of the article notes that the Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan, Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov, also declares the military superiority of Azerbaijan. “We achieved success in the directions of Agdere, Fizuli and Jebrayil in 2016, as well as in Nakhchivan in May 2018, thanks to the successful results of comprehensive reforms under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of our army. All these historical moments that I have noted clearly demonstrate the superiority of the Azerbaijani army over the Armenian one, both in terms of combat training, high spirit patriotism, moral and psychological preparation and professionalism,” the Azerbaijani Defense Minister notes.

Gut writes that, according to the head of the defense departments, Azerbaijan is buying modern combat aircraft, combat and military transport helicopters, artillery mounts, armored personnel carriers, communications equipment, unmanned aircrafts from different countries. “At the same time, our army is equipped with military products produced by the Ministry of Defense Industry of Azerbaijan. In addition to our partners such as Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, we are also building up our military potential in cooperation with Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, South Africa, Israel and many others developed countries", Zakir Hasanov said.

Arie Gut notes that Azerbaijan will continue to support the efforts of the international community aimed at restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan. “The NATO-led Resolute Support Mission is a training, advisory, assistance and counter-terrorism mission in Afghanistan that began in January 2015. Azerbaijan has been working in Afghanistan since November 20, 2002. NATO is grateful to Azerbaijan for supporting the Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan with its military contingent, as well as for financial support and provision of transit opportunities.

Currently, 120 servicemen of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces are participating in the NATO Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan. Moreover, Azerbaijan supports Afghanistan on the path of reforms towards integration into the regional and global economy. In addition, Azerbaijan allowed NATO aircraft that do not have combat payloads to fly through the airspace of Azerbaijan and use the country's airports. About 40 percent of all cargo destined for the NATO mission in Afghanistan passes through the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku,” summed up Arieh Gut in the influential Israeli English-language newspaper The Jerusalem Post.

Chairman of the Jewish community of Armenia Rimma Varzhapetyan-Feller addressed an open letter to the executive director of the American Jewish Committee David Harris in connection with the publication by some "analysts" in the Israeli media of articles propagating hatred for Armenia, the Armenian people and for her - as the leader of the Jewish community of Armenia.

As reported by Armenpress, Rimma Varzhapetyan-Feller writes:

Dear Mr Harris!

I am writing to you in an effort to draw your attention to the fact that in recent months articles in the Israeli press periodically appear inciting and propagating hatred towards Armenia and the Armenian people, as well as towards me, as the leader of the Jewish community of Armenia. These articles are written by the so-called analysts - Arie Gut, Alexander Murinson and Maxim Gauin. (Baku to the future: Azerbaijan, not Armenia, is Israel's true ally http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.623390 , Anti-Semitism in Armenia, http://thehill.com/blogs/congress- blog/foreign-policy/227301-anti-semitism-in-armenia).

The biography of the aforementioned authors, as well as the content of the articles, indicate that they are strenuously trying to set up public opinion and, especially Jews, against the Armenian people, casting a shadow on numbering centuries of history relations between the two peoples.

Overtly false "facts" and attempts at manipulation

Arie Guta's latest article is different. (http://www.jewishjournal.com/opinion/article/armenia_immortalizes_fascists_anti_semites_who_participated_in_the_holocaus).

A former Azerbaijani citizen (he is a Jew, not an Azeri), whose Facebook page shows his desire to gain recognition from the Azerbaijani authorities, speculates and manipulates data, acting as an allegedly “objective” analyst.

In the article, the author once again tries to convince of the presence of anti-Semitism in Armenia, as well as in the Diaspora. It is noteworthy that Gut, Gauin and Murinson wrote about ten articles, the purpose of which is to prove the presence of numerous manifestations of anti-Semitism in Armenia, however, the examples given are either false or distorted. In Armenia, not a single representative of the authorities, any party or public organization has ever allowed himself anti-Semitic statements.

The rights of the Jewish community of Armenia have never been questioned. The Armenian people have always shown deep respect for the Jews and admiration for the historical path we have traveled. From time immemorial, Jews have found on this ancient land with a rich culture a favorable environment for free life and enrichment of their culture.

This is evidenced by the medieval Jewish settlement and a cemetery, preserved thanks to the careful attitude of the Armenian people and authorities.

As Vice-President of the World Jewish Congress Mikhail Chlenov noted at the Global Socio-Political Forum “Against the crime of genocide”: “Despite the small number of the Jewish community of Armenia, it is accomplished and proud, which, through its activities, contributes both to the enrichment of Jewish culture and to the strengthening of the centuries-old friendship between the two peoples ".

The Holocaust has never been denied in Armenia. This year, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan sent a message to the Jewish community dedicated to international day Memory of the victims of the Holocaust. While on a working visit to the United States in early May, he also visited memorial Complex- Museum of the Holocaust.

Armenia - the only country in a region where the topic of the Holocaust is included in the curriculum, and, according to relevant calculations, in terms of awareness of the Holocaust, Armenians are among the first in the world.

In the article, Gut once again speculates on the fact of cooperation with Germany by some representatives of the Armenian diaspora during the Second World War. The fact that the Armenian legion did not take part in the hostilities and was quartered in the rear - in France, Holland and Poland - historical fact. The German leadership never had confidence in the Armenian legion. December 12, 1942 Hitler stated: "Despite all the declarations of Rosenberg and the military, I do not trust the Armenians." The Armenian Legion never missed an opportunity to oppose the Nazis and joined the resistance groups. Armenian prisoners of war played a significant role in the liberation of the south of France, while another group of prisoners of war participated in the resistance in Holland.

Probably, Arya Gut is also aware that during the Second World War, the Azerbaijani legion in the German armed forces was four times larger than the Armenian one. With the participation of this legion, a number of pogroms were carried out (in particular, about 40,000 died in the Volyn massacre). Today, the President of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918-1920), glorified in Azerbaijan at the state level, Mammad Emin Rasulzade, also made a lot of efforts to introduce Azerbaijani prisoners of war into the ranks of the Nazi army.

As for the Armenians, they were in the forefront in the fight against Nazism, both in the Red Army and in the Diaspora. Of the more than half a million Armenians who participated in the Second World War, only half returned home. Armenian soldiers participated in all the bloody battles, freeing many peoples from the fascist yoke, including Jews.

Already, like a well-established tradition, the article gives a place to the Azerbaijani-Turkish anti-Armenian propaganda - the brazen denial of the Armenian Genocide and the repetition of official Baku's rhetoric about the events in Khojaly in 1992. And this is not done professionally. In fact, it would be better if Aryeh Gut cited the then President of Azerbaijan Mutalibov about the events in Khojalu, who completely shed light on the organizers of these events and those who today use it on the propaganda front.

I grew up in a Jewish family. My father from the first days of the war went to the front and reached Berlin, having received many military awards. My mother, along with my parents and my older brother, was evacuated three times. My husband's ancestors, Armenians, suffered during the genocide in Ottoman Turkey, most of the family did not survive.

My family is doing everything possible to strengthen friendly ties between Armenia and Israel, wishing these countries and, of course, all people on earth peace and prosperity.

Unfortunately, such nonhumans as Gut and similar provocateurs accuse me of "complicity with Nazism, fascism and anti-Semitism."

They probably forgot that they don't throw such phrases. You can go to jail for this.

At the same time, respected newspapers and magazines print this nonsense without first thinking about their own reputation.

The organization headed by you, dear Mr. Harris, regularly speaks from the standpoint of strengthening tolerance between peoples and combating manifestations of hatred.

I am grateful to you and proud that for many years I have been a participant in the annual Forums of the American Jewish Committee, at whose meetings much attention is paid to fostering tolerance and combating the incitement of ethnic hatred.

I hope that you will share my concern and we will be able to make joint efforts to counter such provocative actions.

Sincerely,

Rimma Varzhapetyan (Feller)"