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RUSSIAN FRONTIER GUARDS MUST PROVE TURKISH SHEPHERD WAS ARMED - ARMENIAN EXPERT
09:39 09.08.13
Head of the Modus Vivendi center Ara Papyan believes Armenia's Ministry
of Foreign Affairs must demand that Russian frontier guards produce
proofs that the Turkish shepherd crossed the Armenian-Turkish border
armed and was the first to shoot.
The proofs must be provided to Turkey. Otherwise, the incident gives
rise to speculations.
The 35-year-old shepherd Mustafa Ulker crossed the Armenian border
on the evening of July 31. Armenian and Turkish sources offered
contradictory versions of the incident. According to the Turkish
sources, "Armenian guards" opened fire on him when he was searching
for his lost cow that had wandered across the border. According to
the Russian frontier guards, two young Turks crossed over into Armenia
to steal sheep.
After being warned by the Russian frontier guards, the young men
laughed at them. The frontier guards fired two shots into the air,
but one of the Turks allegedly opened fire on them. The Armenia Border
Department of the Russian Federal Security Service reported that one
of the Turks was shot dead.
"I think that the Russian frontier guards took much more radical steps
that they normally take. If the shepherd turns to have not been armed,
it gives rise to speculations," Papayan told Tert.am.
"If it is proved that the Russian frontier guards were the first
to open fire, I suppose that it was done to build up tension between
Armenia and Turkey. But if it was an armed attack, the Russian frontier
guards had no alternative," he said.
Armenia's foreign office must demand clear proofs from the Russian
side that the Turkish shepherd was armed and was the first to open
fire. "A gun is the best proof and the Russian frontier guards must
produce it to the Turkish side. So we must, first of all, cooperate
with the Russian side," Papyan said.
"Turkey has not missed its chance to shape negative sentiments against
Armenia. Of course, it was a Russian frontier guard that shot the
Turkish shepherd dead. However, Turkey is justly stating that this
is Armenia's territory and is taking advantage of the incident to
tarnish our reputation throughout the world," he said.
According to him, the incident may prove a decisive factor in the
Armenia-EU association agreement.
Armenian News - Tert.am
From: A. Papazian
09:39 09.08.13
Head of the Modus Vivendi center Ara Papyan believes Armenia's Ministry
of Foreign Affairs must demand that Russian frontier guards produce
proofs that the Turkish shepherd crossed the Armenian-Turkish border
armed and was the first to shoot.
The proofs must be provided to Turkey. Otherwise, the incident gives
rise to speculations.
The 35-year-old shepherd Mustafa Ulker crossed the Armenian border
on the evening of July 31. Armenian and Turkish sources offered
contradictory versions of the incident. According to the Turkish
sources, "Armenian guards" opened fire on him when he was searching
for his lost cow that had wandered across the border. According to
the Russian frontier guards, two young Turks crossed over into Armenia
to steal sheep.
After being warned by the Russian frontier guards, the young men
laughed at them. The frontier guards fired two shots into the air,
but one of the Turks allegedly opened fire on them. The Armenia Border
Department of the Russian Federal Security Service reported that one
of the Turks was shot dead.
"I think that the Russian frontier guards took much more radical steps
that they normally take. If the shepherd turns to have not been armed,
it gives rise to speculations," Papayan told Tert.am.
"If it is proved that the Russian frontier guards were the first
to open fire, I suppose that it was done to build up tension between
Armenia and Turkey. But if it was an armed attack, the Russian frontier
guards had no alternative," he said.
Armenia's foreign office must demand clear proofs from the Russian
side that the Turkish shepherd was armed and was the first to open
fire. "A gun is the best proof and the Russian frontier guards must
produce it to the Turkish side. So we must, first of all, cooperate
with the Russian side," Papyan said.
"Turkey has not missed its chance to shape negative sentiments against
Armenia. Of course, it was a Russian frontier guard that shot the
Turkish shepherd dead. However, Turkey is justly stating that this
is Armenia's territory and is taking advantage of the incident to
tarnish our reputation throughout the world," he said.
According to him, the incident may prove a decisive factor in the
Armenia-EU association agreement.
Armenian News - Tert.am
From: A. Papazian