Lately there has been observable Azerbaijani and Turkish obsession about monuments, whether it is destruction of medieval Armenian head stones or protests against Armenian genocide monuments in France.

Why am I putting the words “Azerbaijani” and “Turkish” together again? The thing is that the officials of those two countries (I don’t say nation, since at a recent event Turkish and Azerbaijani students said that Turkey and Azerbaijan are one nation, but two countries. Whatever works.) are honoring the defeat of the Armenian army (read also the massacre of the Armenian civilians) in Nakhichevan, an Armenian region in Azerbaijan where the latest vandalism took place.

As Turkish Zaman reports on 21 March 2006, “A Turkish War Memorial, for Turkish soldiers who died protecting Nahcivan (Naxcivan/Nakhchivan) lands from Armenian occupation during World War I, was opened with a ceremony in Ordubad.” The city Ordubad is Nakhichevan’s second largest city and is very close to the Armenian cemetery (now destroyed) of Hin Jugha (Old Julfa).

Is it a coincidence that the Turkish monument is built next to the site where thousands of Armenian monuments were wiped out just four months ago?

Turkish War Memorial in Nahcivan Opened
By Cihan News Agency, Ordubad
Published: Tuesday, March 21, 2006
zaman.com

A Turkish War Memorial, for Turkish soldiers who died protecting Nahcivan (Naxcivan/Nakhchivan) lands from Armenian occupation during World War I, was opened with a ceremony in Ordubad.

“Turkish Armed Forces will always stand beside its Azeri brothers as was the case in the past,” said Staff Officer Celalettin Bacanli in his speech.

“Have no doubts; the Turkish people and Turkish Armed Forces will always stand beside Azerbaijan, just as they did throughout history,” added Bacanli, declaring the memorial a sign of recognition for Azeri and Turkish brotherhood, as he reminded of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s words, “Azerbaijan’s problem is our problem, its happiness is ours.”

Turkey’s Nakhchivan Ambassador Ismail Sefa Yuceer, Military Attaché of Naxcivan Mehmet Torun, Deputy Governor of Ordubad, Itibar Ismailov; and many citizens from both countries participated in the ceremony.

During World War I, soldiers from some of the divisions under Nuri Pasha were martyred fighting against Armenians.

The location of the Turkish Memorial was determined after talking to witnesses of the war and historians. President of the Nakhchivan Assembly Vasif Talibov also helped in the preparations of the war memorial.