Erdoğan accuses U.S., Russia, France of supplying arms to Armenia

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Saturday accused Russia, the United States and France of supplying weapons to Armenia in its conflict with Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Erdoğan said Minsk Group tripartite had failed to solve the problem of the breakaway region in the southern Caucasus and vowed Turkey would not remain silent in the face of the latest developments in the region, Voice of America Turkish said.

“What do they say? That we support our Azerbaijani brothers. What does the Minsk Tripartie, USA, Russia, France say? They support Armenia. They provide Armenia with all kinds of support in the form of weapons,” VoA cited Erdoğan as saying during a congress meeting of his ruling Justice and Development party in the southeastern town of Şırnak.

Ankara has thrown its full support behind Azerbaijan in the latest flare-up in the decades-long conflict over the breakaway region, which has entered its fourth week.

“Our Azeri brothers and sisters are struggling to liberate these occupied lands,’’ Erdoğan said. “My God be their aid, I believe that they will seize these occupied lands from Armenians.’’

The West is not on the side of Azerbaijan, who has been a victim of Armenia’s violation of last week’ ceasefire, Erdoğan said.

Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed on Oct. 10 to a Russian-brokered truce, aimed at allowing the sides to swap detainees and the bodies of the deceased. But the ceasefire failed after both sides continued carrying out attacks, while accusing each other for violating the agreement.