From Game of Thrones to the reality of a 20 year old conflict

Originally published on The Neutral Zone. 

“Those boys didn’t kill your sons […] They were just boys, look at them”.

Generally, I abstain from quoting lines from movies, TV series, or songs. But sometimes, there are some lines that are worth quoting; sometimes they are even worth writing down somewhere, and reading them every day to remind ourselves of who we are, what we have become, what we want to be, or where we are headed. When I heard these words, I wrote them down to remind myself and hopefully others of what we have become or will become if we do not stop seeking vengeance.

Some of you might be familiar with the “Game of Thrones” an epic fantasy television drama series. The series are based on a fantasy novel series written by George R. R. Martin. In season three, there is an episode when two captive, innocent boys are murdered by soldiers out of vengeance – their uncle’s soldiers killed the two sons of another fighter. The perpetrators are punished for committing this crime even though the captives are from the enemy line. The leader (the King of North) refuses to accept this act as crime committed out of justice. He says these boys were just boys and were not there when the two sons of the man who killed them were murdered.

Yes, it is a movie. Yes, it is a novel. But doesn’t this accusation hold true today, in many conflicts around the world? The act of revenge, vengeance, retaliation – there are so many ways to say it – but most of the time just one way to get it – ending someone’s life forever. Even if it means to kill an innocent child…

Often, this is what I think of nationalism that has taken over the minds and souls of many Azerbaijanis and Armenians. Isn’t this their “argument” – claiming lives of more innocents just because they are the enemies who once fought us and killed our brothers and sisters, uncles, fathers, mothers, and sometimes did much more than just killing?

But aren’t we forgetting something? Aren’t “those boys just boys”?! Why do we find it so easy to demand, to take the life of the other?! Did we give that life to them? No! Did we take part in the upbringing of that person? No! Then how can we so easily just say that someone deserves to die simply because that person comes from a certain country, nationality, blood, or race?

True, those who are responsible for the acts of violence should be held responsible but in no way can we hold a young Azerbaijani or an Armenian responsible for something that was done 20 years ago, perhaps when these innocent people were only infants. And instilling hatred and anger from a young age, influencing the decision and thinking of younger people based on history of violence isn’t the right way either. No one says let’s forget it all together and give up. History is an important part of our life, shaping our countries just as it shapes our lives. But it should not be used as an excuse or a weapon. Respecting history and paying homage to it is one thing; killing and seeking vengeance based on it is something else…

President Ilham Aliyev and his interview with Euronews

I guess, its just a day of videos today. This video interview is actually from last year but watching it again, and especially the last few minutes where the President claims that its normal to have a Constitution where the President can remain in power indefinitely (Referendum was held in March 2009) reminded me of Gaddafi's speech from yesterday- just as preposterous and senseless. 

Reaction to my post on Hrant Dink (updated)

Wanted to share the following two tweets I received following my post on Hrant Dink and his murder.

Translation: The murder of Hrant Dink was a good thing. Armenian dogs and their friends down to hell. Piss off my list.

Translation: Who are you to feel sorry for the Armenians, you dishonorable dog. Aren't these humans [referring to the video] you, Armenian leftover.

Translation: @arzugeybulla @Gurgin Are you fucking Armenians. Cheap whore.

Translation: @arzugeybulla @nihgun If you support Hrant Dink while your own land Karabakh is under Armenian occupation that means you are a filthy dog.

Translation: @arzugeybulla @nihgun Those like you are not worth even spitting at your face. Its clear what shit you are from things you write.

Translation: @arzugeybulla @Gurgin Is Hrank Dink your uncle? I am hundred percent sure that you are an armenian pimp.

This is exactly what i was talking about in my post- things wont change as long as we have such violent, aggressive rhetoric among our people (It wasn't enough to insult me but they have started insulting my friends). I don't know even know what to say to these people...

Remembering Hrant Dink

I remember that day clearly. I just moved to Istanbul, it was January 15th 2007 and just four days after my arrival I heard of Hrant Dink's brutal murder. Back then, I didn't know much about Dink, nor was I aware of AGOS. 

Today, is exactly four years since Dink's murder and as I write these sentences, thousands are gathering in front of the newspaper head quarters in Sisli to commemorate Hrant (watch live). 

I also remember my first visit to AGOS newspaper. Hrant's big posters everywhere. He was a man with ideas and dreams. He was a fighter. But what happened to things that Hrant Dink was fighting for so passionately- looking at relations between Armenia and Turkey, the two are more distant than ever and prospects for reconciliation are stuck somewhere between Turkey's and Armenia's weak foreign policy, Nagorno Karabakh and the rest of the world that talks so much of the Turkey- Armenia rapprochement but does too little to have any effect if any on the process.

Will things change? Will relations between these two countries improve? No one knows but so long as there is no real commitment to change things, it will remain as it is for years to come... 

R.I.P. Hrant Dink! 

http://vimeo.com/8354190 (video you can view on vimeo about Dink's murder titled from January 19th to January 19th- I couldn't embed the video as its restricted by the owner of the video but you can view it on that page)

Dirty secrets behind closed doors revealed

Ask what everyone is reading worldwide today and the answer would be no doubt the WikiLeaks. Released on Saturday, November 27th and continuing to publish, WikiLeaks is putting some interesting leaks on US Embassies cable correspondence with Washington D.C. 

Open any leading newspaper, and the headline of the paper would be on WikiLeaks. Of course, there is no doubt there is some interesting stuff on Azerbaijan too- its relations with neighbors, arrest of young activists Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizada, Nagorno Karabakh, its sudden decision to sell gas to Russia and much more. Below I have added some of the sections from this correspondence. Perhaps someone else will find them interesting too.

On Iran, President Aliyev said he supported economic isolation and believed it could be effective if enforced by a broad coalition [...] On energy cooperation, President Aliyev said that if the Turks demonstrate "constructive behavior" this year that a gas transit deal can happen [...] Aliyev spelled out the reasons Azerbaijan decided to sell gas to Russia last year, noting that "Moscow had asked" and offered a good price for gas that was surplus anyway. But the real reason, Aliyev confided, was that the sale illustrated to "our Turkish friends" that will not be allowed to create a gas distribution hub. "Aliyev made clear his distaste for the Erdogan government in Turkey, underscoring the "naivete" of their foreign policy and the failure of their initiatives, including the loss of support for Turkey among traditional international friends because of Ankara's hostility to Israel.

[...] on the jailed youth activists, U/S Burns said that one of the ways Azerbaijan could show leadership as a tolerant and secular country was in advancing democracy and human rights. He specifically asked that, following the appeal process of the two youth activists, the President find a way on humanitarian grounds to release the two men. Aliyev made no firm commitment but responded, "I think (a pardon or amnesty) can be done. I had no intention to hurt anyone."

[...] In response to U/S Burns' question about the Russian role in the NK talks Aliyev responded that he was convinced that Medvedev's efforts have been sincere [...] He said that at Sochi, Medvedev tried to persuade Sargsian to achieve a breakthrough. He added, however, that it was strange that with so much pressure from Moscow and Lavrov's visit to Yerevan, the Armenians not only resisted progress, but actually backtracked on previously- agreed items. 

The Amnesty International USAWeb Log published a short comment on the part of this discussion that touched youth activists. 

Another WikiLeak published on guardian.co.uk and titled "US embassy cables: US steps up pressure on Turkey over Iran" is all about Turkey and two of its neighbors- Iran and Azerbaijan. Below is an interesting passage from that leak:

[...] Sinirlioglu appealed for "simultaneity" between Armenian Protocols ratification and the Minsk Process. He emphasized "a strong reaction" against the protocols among ruling party MPs had to be overcome before the government would hazard a ratification effort. He warned Congressional passage of an Armenian genocide resolution would "complicate" his government's domestic political calculations regarding ratification. He said if something acceptable to Azerbaijani President Aliyev can found, then "we can move" the protocols forward. Sinirlioglu suggested Azerbaijan and Armenia's announcement of an agreed framework for Minsk Group progress would provide the GoT with the necessary political cover. Burns inquired about the prospect for progress on a natural gas deal between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Sinirlioglu implied Aliyev is HOLDING AN AGREEMENT HOSTAGE TO TURKEY'S HANDLING OF THE PROTOCOLS: "He doesn't TRUST us" [...]

To read more on WikiLeaks and the Caucasus you can visit this address, an outstanding compilation of many interesting leaks on Turkey as well by Liana Aghajanian.  

Caucasus Edition new Issue is up (November 1st)

Caucasus Edition Journal of Conflict Transformation launches its new issue. To read more analysis on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, and the relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan by scholars, journalists, diplomats, experts and bloggers, visit the website.

Social Media in the Caucasus (presentation at Sabanci University/Istanbul with Phil Gamaghelyan)

Yesterday, together with Phil Gamaghelyan co- founder and co- director of the Imagine Center for Conflict Transformation and the managing editor of Journal for Conflict Transformation Caucasus Edition we gave a presentation at the Sabanci University in Istanbul on the use of social media in conflict areas with focus on the situation in Nagorno Karabakh.

Phil spoke of the peace process, highlighting general debate, while I focused on social media based initiatives and what they have brought to the peace talks.

Below is my part of the presentation uploaded on SlideShare.com

Social Media and Conflict (Nagorno Karabakh)

View more presentations from Arzu.

"Passenger"

This is the title of a short movie/ project, prepared by two young journalists from Armenia and Azerbaijan. The idea is very creative I have to say. Two taxi drivers- Armenian and Azerbaijani- drive around their cities- Yerevan and Baku- listening to Azerbaijani and Armenian (respectively) music and asking their passengers what do they think of the other. 

My first impressions: it made me feel sad, because watching it, whether you want it or not, the reality hits you. While, many young people from both sides are engaged in joint projects, conversations, meetings and initiatives- working together to break the walls of long- lasting mistrust- still, many if not majority on both sides, think of the other as "an enemy". 

The movie also shows, how little the two sides know of each other, something thats been generated as a result of long and thus as a result deeply embedded stereotypes. 

Though, overall, I found the initiative engaging, the lack of passengers talking from the Azerbaijani side, makes the movie rather weak especially in terms of understanding both sides' thinking (if thats what this project aims at, and I believe thats what it is). I would say, thats the biggest minus of this movie. 

Пассажир from eurasiaam on Vimeo.

"Oil, Afghanistan and Progress"

When Barack Obama declared Azerbaijan as one of the world’s worst violators of freedom of press in April 2009, the already fragile relationship between the two countries became even tenser. In 1992, in the early days of Azerbaijan's independence, the tensions started as a result of the Armenian-Azerbaijani war over Nagorno-Karabakh, where Armenian forces came to control about 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territories. In the summer of that year, the US Congress passed Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, which stipulated that the US government could not directly aid Azerbaijan's government, despite US support of neighbouring Georgia and Armenia. The decision raised doubts in Azerbaijan of US impartial involvement as a peace broker in the region and member of the OSCE Minsk Group. Also, some in Azerbaijan saw for the first time that it cannot trust the USA because of the strong Armenian lobby.

You can read the rest of the article here: http://www.balcanicaucaso.org/eng/All-news/Oil-Afghanistan-and-progress

Trip to Georgia

Last week, I was in Telavi/Georgia at a four- day retreat for an event called Model Caucasus Parliament (MCP). I was there as co- facilitator and gave a short presentation (case study) on the topic of putting online media tools to use when it comes to campaigning. For those who are familiar with Model UN, MCP was something similar, except with less countries- three to be precise and less people as well. 

The idea behind MCP is "to generate interest/knowledge in parliamentary democracy among young people in the region, as well as bringing up generation of capable and dedicated leaders who will shape peaceful and prosperous future for the South Caucasus".  

The theme of this particular event focused on campaign management (there was already one event held, there will be one more event following which there is going to be simulation with some of the best participants of all three of these events). There were several guest speakers who gave presentations on various aspects of campaign management. One of my personal highlights was the speaker who told the story of Obama campaign and how it was planned.  

There was another highlight of the trip, and that was a visit to a village- Karajala- 15 minutes outside of Telavi, populated by ethnic Azerbaijanis. 

A little bit about the village:

According to the locals the population of the village is around 8,000 people (Wikipedia says between 8 and 10,000). All are ethnic Azerbaijanis who have lived there for several generations. They speak in Azerbaijani but with a dialect- they all use Georgian as well, so it is more of a mix. 16- year- old son of the village head says there are maybe 3 or 4 Georgian families. 

The education given at the local school at first (1937) was in Turkish and Azeri but since 1996 it has been in Georgian.  The ex- school principal says the quality of education is weak though things have been changing with Saakashvilli. "Friendship among nations emerged" says the principal and so gradually things got better. 

In general people are happy with the life style in the village. Some of the women even said that it is better than in other surrounding villages. “Economically condition is fine. Telavi has 24 villages, and we are the ones who pay highest taxes because people who live here do trade and have better and more income than others. But it is the infrastructure- roads- that are bad”, says the principal of the school.  He also added that they don’t have constant water, which explains water “pit- stops” on the sides of the road.

“The local municipality is useless. The man who is in charge is a baker from Baku and he doesn’t even know how to write an official letter”, says the principal.

Impressions: 

To be honest, I wasn't expecting much. I thought at best, there would be some nice shots and maybe few interviews. Well, it was more than that. 30 minutes into the visit, a woman, whom we (me and journalist Onnik Krikorian) tried to interview told of a wedding that is taking place just five minutes from where we were standing. 

The front yard of the house was crowded with people- neighbors, relatives who came to help. This was just the preparation; the wedding was to take place later in the evening and that was the only the girl’s wedding (according to Azerbaijani traditions there are two weddings- girl and boy, the boy’s wedding is the actual wedding). It all looked like well- planned team work- men were setting up the tables, while women were busy preparing food and washing the dishes. 300 guests were expected to come. 

Several hours into chatting with locals, we got invited to the wedding itself, which was the ultimate experience. There is a slide show presentation that can be watched at:http://frontlineclub.com/blogs/onnikkrikorian/2009/09/an-unexpected-visit-to-an-azeri-village-wedding.html

Looking back at that day, I catch myself smiling, remembering all the tiny details of those few hours spent at the village and of course, MCP- great initiative and an opportunity to meet great people...