How to build identity

At this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair and together with our partner, ARI Literature Foundation, we organized an Armenia-panel, reflecting on identity and literature with writers, translators and poets. It was a good and very much needed discussion in times when not only identities but literally grounds are shaking. Not only, but especially in the South Caucasus. Can literature shape identities? What is the role of literature in crisis situations? Can language be a homeland? – These were some of the questions the panelists tried to answer.

(Re-)building identity is something every nation needs to do, constantly, especially in volatile times. In October we could observe an identity-building approach other than reflecting or discussing: In Khankendi/Stepanakert, President Aliyev tried to “enforce identity” by kissing or trampling on flags.

On 9 November, KAS together with the Armenian NGO “Political Dialogue” organized a discussion forum in Yerevan about the status and integration of displaced people from Nagorno-Karabakh. Stephan Malerius and Avnik Melikian kicked off the event on behalf of the organisers with opening impulses, followed by a research presentation and a discussion. The views of displaced people from Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenian NGOs, researchers, state institutions and party representatives were voiced, which highlighted multiple layers of legal and political dimensions around the issue, ranging from national security risks to human rights, as well as internal and external political consequences.

German Minister of Foreign Affairs visits Armenia

During her visit to Yerevan on 3 November, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock urged for a continuation of peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan under mediation of EU Council President Charles Michel. After meetings with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Baerbock pledged further German humanitarian aid, visited a reception facility for displaced people from Nagorno-Karabakh and participated in a patrol by the EU monitoring mission that observes Armenia's borders with Azerbaijan.

Pashinyan introduces "Crossroads of Peace" idea

Speaking at the "Tbilisi Silk Road Forum" on 26 October, Prime Minister Pashinyan outlined a "Crossroads of Peace" idea. The initiative aims at enhancing regional connectivity, roads and railroads between Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Iran, thus becoming "an integral part of the peace agenda". He further underlined his desire to finalize a peace agreement with Azerbaijan based on the "Brussels principles" agreed in the framework of peace talks mediated by EU Council President Michel. 

EU observer mission expands

On 1 November, the civilian EU Monitoring Mission to Armenia (EUMA) opened its new headquarters in Yeghegnadzor. Since its initial deployment in February 2023, EUMA has expanded the range of its patrols, which now also include the border between Armenia and the Azerbaijani exclave Nakhchivan. High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell announced on 13 November the decision to widen the mission further "with more patrols in the sensitive areas of the border". 

European Commission recommends to grant candidate status to Georgia

On 8 November, the European Commission published its recommendation to grant Georgia the EU candidate status "on the understanding that the government takes important reform steps to mirror the genuine aspirations of the majority of its citizens to join our Union". The announcement was welcomed by the Georgian government, opposition and civil society. The final decision has to be taken by the EU member states at the European Council summit in Brussels on 14-15 December. 

Russian occupation troops kill Georgian citizen

On 6 November, Russian troops shot to death a Georgian civilian along the Administrative Boundary Line with the Russian-occupied region of South Ossetia. According to the Georgian Security Service, Tamaz Ginturi was killed while Russian forces tried to detain him and other civilians, who were on their way to a church. Another Georgian was abducted but later released. The EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia confirmed the events, which were met with outrage and condemnation by Georgia and its Western partners.  

Georgian Parliament fails to impeach President Zourabichvili

The attempt of the ruling Georgian Dream party to remove President Zourabichvili from office over her unauthorized state visits to EU countries did not receive the necessary support of two-thirds of the parliament. On 18 October, only 86 of the 150 MPs voted in favour of the motion to impeach her. Previously, the Constitutional Court ruled that the President's foreign visits, in which she lobbied for Georgia's EU integration without approval from the government, were unconstitutional. 

German Minister of Foreign Affairs visits Azerbaijan

Foreign Minister Baerbock met President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov on 4 November in Baku. Mirroring the statements made in Yerevan, Baerbock proposed to continue the peace talks facilitated by Brussels and advocated for "a new way of living together, for the benefit of all Azerbaijanis and Armenians". At a tense press conference, Baerbock was confronted with various accusations. When she referred to towns in Nagorno-Karabakh by their Armenian names, this caused a sharp response from Bayramov who asked her to "respect Azerbaijan's sovereignty". 

Azerbaijan holds "Victory Parade" in Nagorno-Karabakh
President Aliyev celebrated the "Victory Day" on 8 November, dedicated to the end of the Second Karabakh War in 2020, with a military parade in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Hundreds of troops who participated in the 2020 war and the September 2023 military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh passed President Aliyev in the center of Khankendi/Stepanakert, the regional capital that came under control of Azerbaijan in September. Days before, Aliyev had already been in the deserted city, flying the Azerbaijani flag and tramping with ostentation on the Karabakh-Armenian flag.

President Aliyev participates in summit of Turkic states

On 3 November, Kazakh President Qasym Toqaev hosted the leaders of the "Organization of Turkic States" in Astana. Toqaev congratulated Aliyev for "strenghtening Azerbaijan's statehood", likely referring to the recent military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh, and lauded the strength and unity of the "brotherly nations". Notably, the summit's guests not only included the heads of state from Azerbaijan, Turkey and Central Asian Turkic states, but also Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.