Caucasus

With intense financial support from Moscow and deepening economic ties with the Russian market, Abkhazia has a chance to be reborn after the devastating war with Georgia in 1992/1993.

Turkey has close ties to the Caspian region, Central Asian, and the Middle East. Its longstanding cultural, historic, and economic interrelationships in the area means that Turkey is an ideal intermediary for the EU in its efforts to develop an energy dialogue.

The Football game between Armenia and Turkey in September 2008 and sports diplomacy.

Turkey’s engagement of Armenia represents only one element of a more ambitious Turkish agenda. Turkey is now pursuing a new policy of deepening its ties to not only the countries of the Caucasus, but also of including the countries of Central Asia.

Etyen Mahçupyan, is a Turkish-Armenian journalist and writer. Since 2007 he has been the editor-in-chief of Agos, the Armenian community's weekly newspaper. In this interview he discusses the perspectives for Turkish-Armenian relations, the implications for the Caucasus, and his work for the Hrant Dink Foundation.

Right now, the only regional market accessible to Armenian exporters is Georgia. Two other neighbours, Azerbaijan and Iran, are well-nigh inaccessible to Armenian exports. Thus, opening the Turkish market to Armenia would greatly improve the country’s investment rating which is presently stymied by the narrow limits imposed on its foreign trade.

Opening the Armenian-Turkish border and establishing diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey will fundamentally change the relationship between all countries in the Black Sea and Caspian regions, as well as between the great powers for which the region is an area of vital importance.

Within Armenian political elites there is little to no opposition to rapprochement with Turkey. Many windows in Yerevan offer a good view of Turkey, and most Armenians realise that it is neither normal nor desirable to have two out of four land borders sealed.

Turkey and Armenia may be on the verge of a major breakthrough in bilateral relations. The border between the two countries, closed for a decade and a half, may soon re-open. What would an opening mean for the two countries? What has made the rapprochement possible? This dossier combines expert analyses and interviews with political leaders to give a deeper insight into a complex region.

On November 6-7, 2008 South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation and Bertelsmann Foundation initiated a strategic cooperation dedicated to "A European Strategy for the Southern Caucasus".