Jan 4, 2014

Stranded in Doha

Souq Waqif, Doha, Qatar © Onnik James Krikorian 2013

One of the stand-out moments of 2013 was being stranded in Doha for 24 hours on my way back from Abu Dhabi where I had been invited to speak on countering violent extremism online at an intergovernmental seminar organised by the United States Government’s Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications (CSSC), the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), and the Hedayah Centre.

Well, not so much stranded as simply missing a connecting flight. I used to dread such things, but thanks to Qatar Airlines’ mishap it meant I got to see an albeit very tiny part of Doha while waiting for the next flight out. After a little sleep and food, I didn’t have as much time in those 24 hours to see the city, but I did get to check out Souq Waqif. Loved every second and must definitely go back.

Anyway, I’ll post some other pics from that journey — of Abu Dhabi and some stunning vistas flying over Azerbaijan and Iran — but for now a few photos from Doha’s Souq Waqif.

Souq Waqif, Doha, Qatar © Onnik James Krikorian 2013

One Caucasus Festival in Georgia Bridges Regional Divides

Sep 1, 2024

This month, against the backdrop of the Caucasus Mountains, a unique four-day festival in Georgia celebrated its tenth anniversary. Held annually in August, the multi-disciplinary One Caucasus festival aims to rediscover a spirit of unity and cooperation that once flourished among the diverse nations of the region.

Europalia 2023: Cultural Diplomacy Strengthens Ties Through Art and Music

Nov 28, 2023

Earlier this month Georgia was the theme of the Europalia biennial in Belgium. With a rich history of art, culture, dance, and music of its own, it was therefore encouraging to see that one of the performers from the country was the ethnic Azerbaijani Ashiq Nargile. This was a welcome inclusion of a representative of Georgia’s largest ethnic minority in the programme.