Lithuania: Baltic "concern" about Karabakh separatists "France gave the go-ahead"

The protests of Azerbaijani activists against the illegal exploitation of natural resources on the Shusha-Khankendi road, which started on December 12, seem to have caused "concern" in the countries friendly to Azerbaijan, which was an unpleasant surprise for Baku. Thus, on December 16, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry expressed "deep concern about the blockade of the Lachin corridor," which, according to the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry, leads to "serious humanitarian consequences for Nagorno-Karabakh" and "undermines the entire peace process in the South Caucasus".

In response to the statement of the Lithuanian side, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry pointed to the following nuances.

"There is no territorial unit called 'Nagorno-Karabakh' on the territory of Azerbaijan. Just as Lithuania is no longer called the "Baltic country," it is unacceptable to call the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan by the former names formed during the Soviet Union," the Spokesperson of the Azerbaijani Foreign Affairs Ministry Aykhan Hajizada said.

Baku also quite correctly pointed to the strategic mistakes of the Baltic state.

"The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry takes a biased and one-sided approach to the issue, instead of protesting against illegal economic activities, plundering of natural resources, military provocations, movement of mines into the territory of Azerbaijan and the use of the Lachin road for illegal economic activity," the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said.

So if to consider the whole position of the Lithuanian state concerning Armenia, based on real facts it is obvious that the statement of the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry is not the first case reflecting frank indulgence for the interests of Armenians and a prejudiced attitude towards Azerbaijan. For example, Vilnius criticized Baku for the military solution to the Karabakh conflict. In this regard, Lithuania supported the idea of deploying the EU mission on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which is again in Yerevan's interests.

There are also other facts, indicating the frank sympathy of Vilnius for Armenians. In particular, bypassing official Baku, the representatives of Lithuanian media, as well as a member of Seimas Dalia Kuodite visited Karabakh via Armenia and then published pieces on "the moral and physical suffering of the poor Armenians waiting for the attacks of brutal Azerbaijanis". Tellingly, there was not a single hint in the publications about the fate of Azerbaijanis expelled by Armenian occupants from their own territories, nor was there any condemnation of the barbaric shelling of Ganja, Tartar, and Barda by Armenians in 2020 - cities far beyond the then frontline, which resulted in the death of Azerbaijani civilians.

The Turkophobia of official Vilnius is evident. In this context, we should remind that the Seimas of Lithuania adopted a resolution on the so-called "genocide of Armenians" in December 2005. Though neither then, when the resolution was adopted, nor after that, any of the Lithuanian historians, political scientists, and journalists ever studied the materials in the Turkish archives, which, unlike the Armenian ones, were always open. Moreover, in 2019, Armenians organized a discussion about the events of 1915 at the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences. The leadership of the Academy of Sciences let Armenian politicians, historians, and representatives of the Armenian community in. But they defied all the democratic principles and common decency by not allowing the Turkish ambassador and Turkish historians. In addition, the events organized by the Lithuanians and Armenians to commemorate another anniversary of the events of 1915 are attended by well-known personalities of the country. But when the victims of Khojaly are remembered, only a few representatives of the local public are present.

And now Vilnius expresses "deep concern in connection with the continuing blockade of the Lachin corridor" stressing that "the blockade is fraught with serious humanitarian consequences for Nagorno-Karabakh". What is it if not the support of Armenian separatism? But verbally Lithuania recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. And here the Lithuanian diplomats should recall that Lithuania used to be in a very similar situation with Azerbaijan. I am referring to the operation to liberate the Klaipeda region in 1923. Then, instead of listening to the West's delusions about the need to properly decide the fate of Klaipeda, Lithuania disguised its military in civilian clothes and took back the port by force. Had it not been for this military operation, Lithuania probably would have lost Klaipeda forever.

In turn, Marat Kasem, editor-in-chief of "Sputnik Litva", a political analyst, while commenting on the statement of the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry for Caliber.Az, expressed surprise at Lithuania's position, noting that Azerbaijan has always been considered in Lithuania if not as an ally, then at least as a strong and reliable partner.

According to Marat Kasem, Lithuania is not independent in making such statements, and external countries are likely to be involved in the matter.

"I am sure that the order came from the major EU countries, donor countries, at the expense of which Lithuania supports its economy. For example, France could give the go-ahead," said the Lithuanian political analyst.