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Tangible Results Expected After EU-facilitated Armenia-Azerbaijan Talks in Brussels
Yesterday, European Council President Charles Michel facilitated talks between the Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, and the Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev, in Brussels. It was the third such meeting held in this format. Its structure was the same too, with Michel meeting with each leader separately before all three convened for another trilateral meeting.
28 Years after the 1994 Armenia-Azerbaijan Karabakh Ceasefire
Today marks the 28th anniversary of the 1994 ceasefire agreement that temporarily halted fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh. Coming into force at 12.01 am on 12 May 1994, its terms, as dictated by the 5 May Bishkek Protocol were nonetheless left unimplemented for decades, ultimately leading to the 2020 second Karabakh war.
Armenia-Azerbaijan Negotiations: New Context and New Challenges
On 5 May 2022, Caucasus Edition, a publication of the Imagine Center for Conflict Transformation, held another Zoom webinar as part of it series of events aimed at Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue, this time on the new context and challenges that both countries find themselves in following both the 2020 Karabakh war and the more recent Russian further invasion of Ukraine.
Brussels: Last Chance for an Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace?
As expected, last Wednesday’s meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and European Council President Charles Michel in Brussels was a serious endeavour. As early as 22 March, Armenian media had reported such a meeting was planned, and it might even have been arranged earlier. Publicly at least, and unlike previous meetings, senior Armenian and Azerbaijani officials also openly met in Brussels on 30 March to prepare.
Rethinking Peacebuilding in the South Caucasus in Relation to the War in Ukraine
Last week, Caucasus Edition, the publication of the Imagine Center for Conflict Transformation, held another Zoom webinar, this time entitled “Rethinking Peacebuilding in the South Caucasus in Relation to the War in Ukraine.” Recently, there have been many commenting on what the Russian invasion might have on this region, though framing it as a need to reconsider peacebuilding strategies in the South Caucasus is an especially relevant one.
Punks Not Dead in Tbilisi, Georgia
I almost missed Saturday’s gig by veteran Georgian punk band Vodka Vtraiom, but thankfully stumbled upon. the announcement of the event held at Tbilisi’s Dirty Habit bar with just two hours to spare. Kesha, the band’s vocalist had arrived in Georgia a day earlier and this was the first gig by the band in what must be almost three years.
Ukraine and the South Caucasus
After months amassing troops on the border with Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the order to further into Ukrainian territory late last month. For the first time in two decades, full-scale war returned to the European continent, sending out shockwaves globally. Outrage was widespread and in a rare show of unity, even if unwilling or unable to intervene directly, the vast majority of UN member states condemned the Russian military action.
Karabakh in Focus at Yerevan Euronest Meeting
Having declined to attend a meeting of Euronest in Yerevan in 2015, the arrival of two Azerbaijani MPs, Tahir Mirkishili and Soltan Mammadov, in Armenia was the first in a decade. According to one regional analyst, their participation was an achievement. Some might well consider if this isn’t an important precedent for the resumption of other exchanges between the two countries following the 2020 Karabakh War.
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Confidence Building Measures
In a Commonspace piece published last month, Johnny Melikian and Ramazan Samadov argue that the unblocking of regional economic and transport links represent an unprecedented opportunity for achieving peace and stability in the South Caucasus. Though the authors note that the wounds from the war will take time to heal, it is this connectivity that could prove to be the most significant development emerging from the 2020 ceasefire agreement.