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Onnik J. Krikorian

25 Oct, 9 tweets, 6 min read

@ArpiBekaryan

Following the recent post by @ArpiBekaryan I'm going to post about some grassroots conflict resolution projects I've seen. Though not without problems, they didn't fall into the cookie cutter trap of closed doors and usual suspects. One was Tekali...

balcanicaucaso.org/eng/zone/Armen…

The ethnic Azeri village of Tekali was chosen for cross-border meetings. More importantly, rather than involve the 'elite' in the capitals, it's location in Georgia on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border allowed people from the regions of all three to attend.

balcanicaucaso.org/eng/Areas/Arme…

Not only that, but discussions were held in the 'real world,' and not a fancy spar resort or hotel in a major urban centre. No closed doors, no confined spaces. Real interaction between Armenians and Azerbaijanis with local ethnic Azeri families hosting.

conflict-voices.net/blog/2012/07/f…

Discussion wasn't just limited to resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh. They also included issues of mutual concern. There was no 'politicisation' of conflict resolution too, something many NGOs fall prey to. Real people-to-people interaction.

Many large, often bloated NGOs didn't like this approach. Often, it seemed as they were focused on monopolising peace-building, just as governments do, and living off regular, large international funding that never benefited what their actual focus should have been – communities.

@fatalin

Talking of Georgi Vanyan, the main driver of the 'Tekali Process,' I totally forgot, and only just accidentally stumbled upon, something about him by @fatalin.

Photograph of Vanyan is one of mine too. Time flies...

Peace Activist Threatened in Armenia foreignpolicyblogs.com/2012/04/14/pea…

I also interviewed him in 2009:

Georgi Vanyan: Every family has the desire for peace frontlineclub.com/blogs/onnikkri…

“Communication is not betrayal. It is a natural human need.”

Also a good write up from one of the Tekali meetings held in 2012 by Epress.am Editor-in-Chief Yura Manvelyan:

The Tekali Process: When the citizens of the South Caucasus get down to business caucasiancircle.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-te…

#Armenia #Azerbaijan #Karabakh

@fatalin

Just discovered that Vanyan has been interviewed on the current fighting thanks to a comment from @fatalin. In Russian, but if you've been following the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Karabakh for some time, you'll understand the Google translation:

southcaucasus.com/my-sami-tak-za…

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Onnik J. Krikorian

@onewmphoto

26 Oct

@babayevsky

Watching a live-streamed presentation on Armenia and Azerbaijan in the context of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict from the Netherlands. Apparently neutral. Might live-tweet any relevant points worth being amplified to and for all sides as well as others interested. HT @babayevsky

@adrianrogstad

Perhaps the most important point articulated by @adrianrogstad just now is that the international community is frustrated by the inability of Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Remember, the main ceasefire agreement was signed 26 years ago.

@adrianrogstad

However, worth noting that @adrianrogstad also points out that Putin has hardly been enamoured by Pashinian's premiership. That said, a key new player this time is Turkish support for Azerbaijan. Ankara willing to take on Moscow for influence in the South Caucasus region.

Read 6 tweets

Onnik J. Krikorian

@onewmphoto

26 Oct

As mentioned, I've a piece coming soon on the impact fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh will have on Georgia. Because of word count, can't include all the interviews other than in much shorter quotes. So tweeting key points here over next few days. 1/

@ISirbiladze

Today's key points are the responses from Georgian International Relations Analyst @ISirbiladze. It won't be any surprise that he considers the implications of fighting are very serious for the region. #Armenia #Azerbaijan #Karabakh 2/

@ISirbiladze

In this fighting, says @ISirbiladze, Turkey can be considered an 'open enabler' while Russia is a 'failing disabler.' Moscow has shown itself unwilling or unable to dissuade Azerbaijan from continuing with its military operations against Armenian forces in and around Karabakh. 3/

Read 9 tweets

Onnik J. Krikorian

@onewmphoto

25 Oct

Seems the Basic Principles are still on the table, and reportedly in Yerevan too. 1/4

"[…] Baku is ready to halt hostilities in and around Nagorno-Karabakh if Armenia accepts a framework peace accord put forward by the United States, Russia and France."

azatutyun.am/a/30911727.html

"In separate comments to the Sputinik news agency, [Pashinian spokesperson] Gevorgian said that Yerevan is “committed” to seeking a peace deal that would be based on the principles cited by Aliyev. “Armenia is prepared for a ceasefire and a negotiating process,” she said. 2/4

“Their essence is known: a phased liberation of districts around Karabakh while observing security guarantees for Karabakh and ensuring a reliable link [with] Armenia until determining the final status of Karabakh,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said […]." 3/4

Read 4 tweets

Onnik J. Krikorian

@onewmphoto

25 Oct

https://twitter.com/cpicciolini/status/1320092294142398465

Because of other recent events, only got to catch the first four episodes of this excellent podcast series. Time to listen to the remaining three. Now episode 5. Did not know Dylann Roof was listening to Christian’s former band. #Charleston #XRW 1/2

https://twitter.com/cpicciolini/status/1320092294142398465

Interesting introduction too. On whether Preventing / Countering Violent Extremism (P / CVE) should be entrusted to former violent extremists? Not solely, but if genuine, they can be important and credible messengers. Also mentors, but let’s see what the conclusion is. #XRW 2/2

@oyousef

Wow. That was an excellent and honest episode. @oyousef not holding back asking difficult questions. My conclusion? I think ‘formers’ such as @cpicciolini are important actors in P/CVE. But what’s also needed is a holistic approach comprising many types of people, practitioners.

Read 4 tweets

Onnik J. Krikorian

@onewmphoto

24 Oct

There'll be an article coming on the impact the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict has had on Georgia next week, but regarding the impact on the ethnic Armenian and Azeri communities, some of the points made in various interviews to come over the next few days. 1/5

First up, Arnold Stepanian, Chairperson of the Multinational Georgia public movement. He describes the situation as being more tense between the two communities than at anytime before. He reckons about 12,000 people total from both have engaged in some kind of demonstration. 2/5

But to put that in perspective, Georgia’s ethnic Armenian and Azeri minority communities stand at 168,000 and 284,000 respectively. Stepanian believes that mis/disinformation on social media is playing a more active role in radicalising people than at any time before. 3/5

Read 5 tweets

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