the chance to fight the war and to push these areas back, that accuses be incumbent nicole pushing out of signing away territory that could have been kept, could have been defended. essentially, cooperation is going to the country now for a new mandate for new mandate. on the c 5, this is essentially a referendum on the sci fi. but for the, increasingly on the threat increasingly precarious, we went to the mountains on the border between armenia and other by john to see just how close the troops are now. and just how tense that situation is playing out . almost 3000 meters above sea level. but only a few meters apart, armenian, and as every soldier stare each other down. the matter months after brutal war, so thousands killed and war crimes committed against prisoners disposed committee campus conflicts. the commanders eventually put an end to disprove. recent weeks have seen repeated shooting. and meanings, soldiers kidnapped, where is a pass and repeated up and down a mean years,

hundreds of kilometer long border with us by john until last autumn sees for the 2 countries international border was in practice, little more than a line on the map. armenia controlled both sides the frontier as part of a buffer zone around the going to car back. the problem now is that these 2 adversaries have very different ideas as to whether you bought a post should be armenia accused by john of moving his positions deep into armenian territory. other east, close the borderline or visual fit borderline and came in sight the army in territory about tricky elementary. my personal opinion that the situation might be resolved as soon as possible to talk to talk to don't have partner. college is every say they have different maps taken back to the 1980s maps. we show a very different borderline down below in the armenian border village of could locals can hear the shooting in the mountains, but some, it's more personal than that. he just, my,

my 3 sons are up there now. he's in the middle. yes. well, you something called a novel about 2324 and 27. about what they did just 3 days ago. their friend was killed. we seem not. he was just 18 and had just joined the army door to the posher virus. and drunk tells us his neighbors are too scared to take their cows up to their usual mountain passes to graze. after his airy force, his shot heard as their couse to be wandered away. a tragedy for villages surviving and little else? yes, yes. and he knows he has aries, come here now. must stop and trample us not large enough here and lots of there's no get done, but i'm not going anywhere where i'm staying here. i've already had to move 3 times where, where like most people in this,

i mean in village and drawn it was born and as a by john, a refugee from the 2 countries, 1st conflict back in the late 19 eighties. the war he says, has never really ended merely been caused some so far as of last for years. some just hours. the currency for looking more precarious by the day. with nick we hear the vote is expected to be close. what can you tell us about the 2 main candidates? the while among the 26 parties that are up for election, this country just 2 and a half 1000000 people did their need to really realistic candidate, both of whom had been on the team for years, decades even one catch it on was president. the 1915 as the criminal man in armenia, a man who critics accused him of basically selling out to russia when he was in

charge and who now wants to bring, i mean, even close to russia. i'm already has an issue based it here. russian troops, god, i mean a border with turkey. he wants to draw closer and is basically arguing that nickel passion, young man in charge during that war last year, wasn't close enough to volume a fusion. and as a result rush, it didn't come to me as aide. and nicole personnel is an activist, someone who came from st politics who was challenging that elite who was challenging corruption, who has had successes in the last few years, modernizing armenia, but obviously now had to face them that he allowed this defeat to happen on his watch. and didn't do enough to counter that unexpected very attack. these 2 people couldn't really be more different, but essentially in the big picture in terms of where, i mean, it goes from here, it's a choice between russia and russia. it's just the question degrees where the amino draws close to the point to being essentially allied only to russia and totally aligned with russia in all its feeling. all tries to keep some independent interaction with the west with europe. that's something nicole pushing young is

trying to offer the voted here. realistically, russia will for the foreseeable future, stayed the most important player in this region. and i mean, is only real hope of protecting itself from its neighbors. taken up by john. okay, thanks for insight nike w correspondent, nick connelly, they're in europe and armenia. let's have a look now at some of the other news around the world. around and 6 world powers have adjourned. nuclear talks in vienna to enable consultations with their capital b, e. use on boy to negotiations and re k maura that he expected the international nuclear watchdog. the anti ran to reach a deal on extending a monitoring agreement of iran's nuclear activities current to court. and on thursday, the united states has sent 2 and a half 1000000 coban vaccine doses to the island of taiwan in a move likely to anger beijing type has accused china hampering its efforts to

secure enough doses. ging plays taiwan is chinese territory. china was here furious earlier this month when you were american senators visiting taiwan, announce vaccine donation students in algeria have begun taking their school, leaving examinations over 730000 pupils will fit the baccalaureate over a 5 day period and centers across the country beginning sunday district hygiene conditions will be observed. the united nations is marking world refugee to the un says at the end of last year, 82000000 people have been forced out of their homes by wars and civil unrest. among them are stateless for a hinge of muslims facing constance setbacks in returning to their homeland in miramar. one shallows after another battered by months reign. these are hunger, refugees, a trying to rebuild that makes it wellings. and the world largest refugee camp.

tens of thousands were left without shelter when fire toll through the camp. in march, 11 people were killed as our own mother. we've suffered a lot since my husband died in the fire. so much suffering. we were staying in a plastic shelter, open to the heat and the rain. my whole family waved one small room that would affect it and the one does and i was praying in the last, when the fire started, i rushed back. but i could not find my father and mother. they both died. the fire was the star of another miserable chapter for the displace or a hanger, who fled their homes in me. and now after the military launch that crack down against the muslim minority. now, nearly a 1000000 of them live in squalid conditions. in this camp in neighboring bangladesh, the pandemic has made it much harder. the international aid to get through. there

are a hinder, worried. there will be forgotten. i've been on the now we want justice and appeal to the whole world to help us. and we want to go back to our country as we are trying, but we need your help. us. i don't know. bless us. the united nations is appealing for more funding to help the wrecking, to return home. just a few of the $82000000.00 refugees around the world according to the un. and we turned sports now. germany is celebrating a thrilling for to victory, overpower house portugal and football euro 2020 tournament. robin goodness was germany star player. he crowned a stellar performance with the 4th gore. portugal took an early lead. thanks to christiana rinaldo, but they couldn't hold back the pace and power of the german attack. and as you can imagine, the atmosphere was electric across germany. not just because of the sweltering heat

are in berlin. the relief of beating the european champion was palpable as the humidity in munich. those who didn't have a ticket party on the street. yeah. that's wonderful. be too important. that means we're still in the tune him and let's hope it continues. that was a sentiment echoed by the seems unlikely hero as even to me, a list of info the when mean everything to me because it was essential for the course of the tournament of 2 years when they took them out of the much trophy is amazing to speak on the can put it toward them and told them i am especially when you look back at the career that i heard of especially, and it's one of those evenings i'll never forget. my mom focused on that. and it was a night to remember for german funds, who after the back of the world cup and russia have renewed hope that their team

still has what it takes. at the highest level, the and in formula one red bulls max or step and has one the french grand 3 after taking a leave late in the race from mercedes louis hamilton. the win extend 1st happens lead in championship standings to more than 10 points over hamilton. their staff is red bull team mate. sergio perez completed the podium. finishing 3rd to astronauts have begun another space walk to complete the installation of powerful new solar panels outside the international space station. frenchman to month s k. and shane kimbrell, the united states are picking up where they left off on wednesday when some technical issues and equipment problems delayed their attempts to finish the work. the new solar array will give the aging space station and much needed electrical boost as demand for experiments and space tourism grow 6. you're watching

dw news live from berlin coming up next part 2 of our documentary arabella, her rebellion, pardon me? 10 years after the arab spring and no forget, you can get all the latest news and information around the clock on our website that you w dot com. but we'll leave you now with music from the arena in verona. italy is reopening, was celebrated with a concert version of g verity ada conducted by ricardo enjoy. and thanks for joining ah ah

ah, i oh, i me so many pushes out in the world. climate change can be very close to stores. this is my place, the way from just one week how much work can really get we still have time to, i'm going for me

the arab spring uprisings market turning point in the history of the arab world. the people risk their lives for freedom. the regimes collapsed while foreign powers also entered the arena. the militia groups spread fear and terror. after years of destruction and displacement, where does the arab world stand today? is there a new spring on the horizon? what do people now dream of the

the war in syria is part of the legacy of the arab spring. many in the west had once seen president bashar assad as a relatively liberal progressive figure. but he still showed his true colors after the regimes in tunisia and egypt were toppled the people of syria dare to take to the street in march 2011 to demand freedom, dignity and economic reforms started punishing the towns that are rebelling. so depriving them of all infrastructure or services, government services, let's say waste management, education and then the stage. so i thought was teaching the towns that were rebelling one by one. and so when i say besieging it means there's no water,

there's no electricity, there is no food there. is nobody coming in or going out wherever protests flared up, the regime isolated, those who took part. this is holmes, one of the focal points of the uprising. the garbage wasn't picked up for weeks and the water supply was shut off. there was a growing danger of infectious disease outbreaks. hunger in homes was widespread in 2011. the pos thought had decided that if the residence in one area took to the streets, he would punish that entire neighbourhood. next, we just sat and some days we have none. regime killed our children and our brothers and sisters, why his government is doing this. why the syrians

who lived in exile were deeply concerned about their compatriots suffering at the time. sima bed rabo was working in the united arab emirates. she created a network that brought together opposition activists from across the region. the regime, she says, was it war with its own people? it is not a civil war because a civil war assumes that they are multiple parties fighting one another in the case of syria as their regime fighting the people. so it is not a civil war, is called the terrorism of the state against its own people. as the government crackdown intensified, some opposition supporters took up arms at the same time, they were now widespread desertion in our thoughts only armed forces. mostly among members of the sunni branch of israel. they expressed solidarity with the protesters and refused to shoot at their own people. the

with a growing number of syrians believing that i thought had gone too far, popular support for his regime was falling fast. here in home, a military officer who had deserted, explains to volunteer militiamen how to protect themselves against snipers. along to the con, also the government gave us orders. they violated our oath as soldiers we had sworn to protect civilians. when i saw what was going on, i deserted on june 2nd 2011. it's a death in the dash. as the government campaign continued, they were fewer demonstrations and more st. battles as our thought chose brute force.

the large parts of syria soon bore the scars of a war zone. tens of thousands of people fled to neighboring countries like lebanon and turkey, from their many would make their way to europe. 10 years after the start of the resolution, half of this year in population, $12000000.00 people, half of them is internally displaced, and the other half is turned into records, which is considered by the united nations, the biggest humanitarian catastrophe in the 21st century assad. he's responsible for all of this, i guess, until this day he doesn't acknowledge the existence of an opposition passed on. opponents failed to develop a common strategy. some of them wanted democratic reforms, others favored moderate islamist policies. this lack of unity created a power vacuum that allowed

a radical g hottest group to occupy large parts of syria. the self proclaimed, as mamma state attracted tens of thousands of volunteers from across the arab world, and also from europe and southern russia. by 2014 i yes, controlled the euphrates river region from aleppo and syria to felicia in iraq and even threatened baghdad. islamic state established its headquarters in rocker with its forces later occupying the iraqi cities of mosul and to create it then continued to expand throughout the region, reaching the height of its territorial control. in 2015 islamic states conquest in iraq and syria caused concern in turkey. which borders both countries refugees were pouring in while would be jihadists were using

a stumble as a transit point to enter the region. turkey saw an opportunity to expand its influence in the region. turkish president, friendship tie of air to one is and was closely associated with the conservative muslim brotherhood movement which was gaining influence in several countries in the middle east and north africa air to one side. to take advantage of this situation and make turkey the dominant regional power, it had been in the 19th century. so let your key function need on our 1st on turkey a nature member state supported the syrian revolution on that against. on the one hand, a lot of western aid for the syrian rebels came through turkey. but on the other, a number of young europeans were crossing from turkey into syria to become

jihadists on them. all monsieur logan, as you know. so go into one sort to use this chaotic situation to develop a policy that was both pan islamist and ultra nationalist. he was on the same used in kindness and his officially air. the one was opposed to the growing power of islamic state. but in syria i yes. forces were battling kurdish troops which suited air to on seeing the kurds as a serious threat. his strategy was one of my enemies enemy is my friend. a decision of relationship between turkey and his date was a tactical one. i don't believe that the one in tennessee wanted to help, i guess he saw this as a cost benefit situation is fine. of course, if turkey joined the fight against the stomach state him, it could benefit the curt advisor. then head on top. foreign policy priority is to

prevent the kurds from achieving more political tonight. political pre will take the took kurdish forces fared well in their battle against islamic state. thanks also to support from france and the us in the shape of arms deliveries and air strikes in syria and iraq. the syrian curds have close ties with the kurdistan workers party or p k. k. considered by many a terrorist organization. but for the us, the fight against islamic state now took priority. in 2014, i s still held large parts of northern syria. but curtis troops drove out its forces, ended the siege of co, bonnie and in 2016 declared a better ration in areas that they controlled. turkey was alarmed by the success of

the kurdish militias. former prime minister augment of a total says the us was wrong to support syrian kurdish groups, such as the people's protection units. the y p g u. s. for the citizen or the prison thought that b k, k affiliated groups like p y, d, y, p g could be partners. and this distort turkey is disturbing women. i was promised that i was, this is not the way we should. we should work as to a lice. project is a terrorist organization, not according turkey, according to us and european countries, as well as the kurds, western allies were impressed with the success of the militias, which also had female fighters in their ranks. but for turkey, they represented a growing danger asked my board, see, just denali will for the 1st time, there was a real possibility of a kurdish, autonomous region being established, or even

a kurdish state. and the weird when they represented a real danger for turkey interest. and that's why had one has one overriding priority. and his entire middle east policy is an integral preventing the creation of kurdish states on turkeys border under and so that so for in the air, the ones worst fear was that ethnic kurds in syria and southern turkey could join forces on repeated occasions. he threatened to send troops into northern syria. that's what he means up hockey. this one goes more america after us forces well down their presence in the region. turkish units moved into northern syria city. turkey was no longer content to simply support the islamists, the boy have home to you, sir. yeah, the one now developed a policy that was decidedly nationalist and anti could only c k in his own phone

until he tried to create a buffer zone that extended several dozen kilometers into syria. you could, the aim was to prevent any co operation between kurdish forces on either side of the border and the kurds in syria will fighting i n. a dash. in october 2019. curtis leaders negotiated a deal with president bashar assad. syrian troops with deploy along the border to prevent a turkish military offensive. the deal was brokered by russia. i thought did not want to lose any more territory. this move, plus the addition of russian air strikes against opposition, militias helped boost thoughts. chances are staying and power air, the ones efforts to increase turkeys presence in northern syria, we're only a limited success. meanwhile, bladder, mere put and took advantage of the situation to enhance russia as role as

a major player in the region. still in 2019 air, the one was able to set up buffer zones inside syria, which also served to prevent the various kurdish militia from linking up. mm. as with the arab spring itself, european diplomats did not play much of a role in the goal. she ation aimed at ending the fighting and syria. they were more effective and trying to end the 2nd civil war that broke out in libya in 2014 . in august 2020 german foreign minister. hypo mos travel to libya in an effort to keep the conflict from spiraling out of control. when alice, torn until a in the and as you've been as 5 to 0, we want to do everything we can to prevent libya from becoming a 2nd, syria, russia and turkey are involved. but no one else in loopy. and we don't want to see

libya divided between turkey and russia. but to prevent that, we have to play a larger role and then go and 7 the the 1st libyan civil war began in february 2011 in the wake of arab spring protests and other countries . as elsewhere, the uprising against mar adolphe and the ensuing conflict divided and devastated the country. gadhafi had been courted by western leaders, including then french president nicholas are cozy because of libya's oil reserves, the largest in africa. the west seemed content to ignore the dictators dismal record on human rights. as the street protests against his regime continued armed militia soon got in. adopt these troops moved east and recaptured several cities that had been seized by rebels. unlike in syria,

the un security council authorized member states to use all necessary measures to protect libyan civilians. this included nato air strikes me the foreign intervention turned the tide of the war against gadhafi. he was now isolated internationally. gadhafi was captured and executed by opposition forces in october 2011 opposition forces, backed by military support from nato now rule the country the military levy and vine relative if it's in the military operation against libya, relatively efficient europeans and especially the french who launched this operation. suffered few casually as well under the ice, an onion, syria, whole range of my teaching players were involved. philip was not the case in libya

and in libyan, and a lot of world leaders seemed glad to be rid of contamination before. but after those, to show me the us and european military intervention destroyed good duffy's regime which paved the way for the success of the popular uprising. but the allies played no role in the political transition that followed on the company. this led to a disaster in which libya disintegrated into several warring factions. still these in turn prompted turkey, russia and others to intervene. ah, in the political turmoil that followed the fall of gadhafi rebels led by former field marshal khalifa, half tar challenge to the elected parliament. to the general national congress, the opposition forces were backed by a coalition that included egypt, the united arab emirates, and russia. but augment tolo in 2014 turkeys foreign minister.

and then prime minister, tried to move libya into his country's sphere of influence. even today, although no longer part of the air to one regime, he says this would be in the best interest of both countries. nobody can isolate 30 in the mediterranean. government can tolerate these livia as eastern mediterranean issue may libya as a, as an issue of national interest for search. but presence of turkey, turkish or the is to help the libyan intention. good and clear. nice. go. by 2019. the libyan interim government that had been formed in 2015 was under attack by opposition. forces led by khalifa, half tar. turkey. dispatched mercenaries to support the government while russia backed the other side. mm. western

libya including the capital. tripoli is controlled by the internationally recognized government. the eastern part of the country is occupied by half tars rebels. the conflict has become an international proxy war with turkey and cutter supporting the government. while russia, egypt and the united arab emirates are backing, the rebels escaped stockton. v took high dates such as tacky, russia and the emerald much less interested in peace than they are. and expanding this v as of influence ultimately about geo politics. this is lynn cagle gordon. this is a proxy war and it has to be contained since the 1st thing is because at some point the international players may contract each other directly by time diesel often lease dates. if anything want to expand the fear of influence, and unlike europe,

they wouldn't have to deal with the consequences and these are the consequences. cotton european diplomats headed by berlin, are now working to bring peace to libya. both sides in the conflict considered the germans, unlike france or italy to be impartial negotiators, german lead mediation did at least lead to a cease fire. in october 2020, the airport tripoli, which had seen clashes between rebels and government troops, soon reopened for a limited number of flights. but the peace talks have been complicated by others in the less, more not residents land capacity. despite the arms embargo weapons are still being brought into the country when both sides have violated, the embargo and both sides are bringing in foreign fighters inside. ah, the hopes that

a peace deal will help reduce the number of refugees trying to get to europe from libya. the 1st stop for many refugees is the italian island of land producer. just 300 kilometers north of libya, coast. ah, many of the refugees are intercepted by the libyan coast guard and brought back as part of an e. you funded system that has been criticized by human rights organizations against a will. but this is because once 2 minds as migration is a very sensitive topic across the earth wish to be. and so we want to see livia, develop functional state structures that can deal with the situation with a stable libya is in the use interests. libby as interim government hopes that the europeans will help extend its authority across the entire country. but turkey

and russia likewise continue to push their foreign policy agendas in the region, adding another layer of complexity to the peace process. because ultimately libby as fate is in the hands of regimes in cairo, is turnbull, moscow and abu dhabi the german government is trying to keep both sides and the conflict from insisting on a military solution. the hope that was my side says it has to expand its engagement because the other side is done. the thing that makes it extremely difficult to achieve a political solution is i'm still believe that a military solution is possible. i don't want and we can end the spiral of violence only with the participation of both sides and their foreign supporters. germany's diplomatic efforts are also complicated by contradictory aspects of the use,

middle east policy. you claims to support freedom and democracy, but has often backed leaders who primarily serve europe's interests. a case in point, the united arab emirates where human rights issues seemed to become secondary european re l politic or a betrayal of european values. i think that the biggest mistake that the west always makes this oppressive quest for stability supports for leaders like mobiles in egypt or even in directly for aside and serial or others in the region has only brought long term endemic stomach problems to the region which end up blowing up in everyone's face,

and it's unfortunately a vicious cycle because the reaction than in europe is all. we must stabilize because migrants, refugees, poverty at our doors. so let's push the border further out into the, into the mediterranean, internal africa to make sure this problem doesn't come to us. in lebanon, longstanding economic and political problems may get produced, a popular movement that resembles the original era spring. for years, they route, also a regional financial hub, seemed in a waste of tranquillity. as war raged in neighboring syria, wealthy syrians and gulf arabs poured their money into local real estate and other reasonably safe investments. a stable lebanon seemed to be in everyone's best interests, not least with the mask is just being a 2 hour drive away from a route. but that stability and fear of change have also led to gridlock in the

country's political system. by tradition, lebanon's prime minister is always a sunni muslim on harry served in this post from 2016 to 20. 20. the country's president is always the maronite christian, while the parliament speaker is a shia muslim, the system is based on lebanon's 3 largest religious factions. it may seem equitable on the surface, but the setup has also led to nepotism and corruption. and lebanon's government has proven unable to deal with the countries severe economic problems. they route born journalists, kim, got us, says the people have had enough and now demand real performs. every country in the region is fighting its own internal battles. it has its own internal dynamics, but it's also all interconnected as part of a larger system. the upright things happened. and lebanon was not part of that

wave initially, but it rejoined it more recently in 2019, with the protests that took place in october and continued throughout 2020. in the summer of 2019 thousands gathered in bay route for protests that continued for several weeks. the beginning of a new era spring movement, the uprisings and the protest 11 are part of the bigger picture. they're part of the uprising in general against injustice against corruption against oppression. but then you have the local dynamics that are specific to lobby on because you don't have sha militias in egypt. you don't have sha malicious intent is just as in the original arab spring countries. the situation in lebanon is complicated by the presence of a militant religious organization has belong a sheer political group. that also has a powerful security apparatus. in the 2019 demonstrations organized troublemakers

often clashed with peaceful protesters. in this case, they broke through a police cordon and battled security forces. such disruptions are common during political protests in lebanon. his ball law itself has said that the demonstrations threatened the stability of the lebanese government while denying any involvement in the counter protest via the us germany and several other countries have designated his law as a terrorist organization. but it is definitely a force to be reckoned with in lebanon. its political wing is represented in lebanon's cabinet. and the current parliament, while its militias have helped to maintain us regime across the border and syria has below also has close ties to iran and is considered by many to be toronto proxy in the region. so no mati jimmy as well as presented

themselves as those who fought for the rights of the oppressed for the poor for the occupied, et cetera. but over time, as they entered politics, politics corrupts even resistance movements, which is how they were described by many people and seen by many people in, in, in lebanon. and they've become part of the corrupt establishment. the corruption is widely believed to have played a part in a massive chemical explosion that rocked a root in august 2020. more than 200 people were killed and 7 and a half 1000. others were injured. the area around the ports of bay roots where the blast took place was raised to the ground. almost 3 tons of ammonium

nitrate have been stored in a warehouse without proper safety measures and was likely triggered by welding work . critics, that port officials should have moved the material to a different location, but didn't, because of corruption and hor, management. the nonprofit organization stepped in immediately to help the victims. these groups included in n g o called development, accessible for all which provides aid for poor families throughout lebanon. the office founder is paula jacobi on. here she shows the extent of the damage caused by the blast jacobi yon resigned her seat in parliament shortly after the explosion in protest against corruption and mismanagement and lebanon's government the ticking bomb. there was

dentist in be rude under our nose. this, the government, the president, they all knew about him on, you mean the roots and they did nothing and we trusted them for so long with just the christian leaders, he was christian. and the thing to do with cindy in this. yeah. i know they know they have nothing to do with god. there's a bunch of devils trying to rule a country of who people of divided people. i, while an investigation into the disaster was launched, there has been political interference and a lack of accountability on all sides for explosive material having.