The war in Georgia has left the countries of the South Caucasus struggling with substantial risks and challenges. As a consequence of the recent crisis, which further exacerbated an impasse created by the existence of the protracted conflicts, the region is deprived of a vital vain to transport goods through the countries of the region. That is a matter of our strongest concern. The railroad running through Georgia is practically useless today because of the destruction of the bridge near Gori, whereas reconstruction is being delayed for different reasons. This situation and its consequences threaten to deprive people in our countries of their basic rights and endanger their hopes for stability, security and prosperity.
This crisis should make us assess the situation realistically and initiate a new age of cooperation. The Governments in Ankara, Baku, Tbilisi and Yerevan have a unique chance to prove their credentials of good neighbors willing to contribute positively to the regional peace and stability. We request them to take a collective action and unblock immediately railroad communication networks in the region.
We made our own calculations that we would like to share with the public. Any train can reach from Samsun on the Black Sea coast of Turkey to Yerevan in 34 hours, to Tbilisi in 36 hours and to Baku in 49 hours. From Mersin, which is on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, it will take 37, 39 and 52 hours respectively. This simple. The railroad can become functional in few hours, once a political decision is made.
Thus, we urge to open the Turkish-Armenian border at least for 10-15 days to address the urgency in the Caucasus.
For years we have been engaged in Track Two Diplomacy projects and have been able to build excellent working relations with our colleagues across those borders. Having enjoyed the positive experience of cooperation, we would like to take this opportunity to call upon the Governments in Ankara, Baku, Tbilisi and Yerevan to reconsider their positions on that matter. We urge our leaders to demonstrate their statecraft in these times of turbulence and uncertainty and prevent possible escalation of distrust in this region.
Signatories:
- Tevan Poghosyan, International Center for Human Development, Armenia
- Noyan Soyak, Turkish-Armenian Business Development Council, Turkey
- Natela Sakhokia, Strategic research Centre, Georgia
- Rauf Rajabov, Editor-in-chief of «3rd View» of Analytical-information agency, Ambassador for peace, Azerbaijan
- David L. Phillips, Columbia University, Visiting Scholar, Center for the Study of Human Rights, Co-Director, Study Group on U.S.-Russian and Georgian Relations, the USA
- Dr. Murat Cagatay, GAYA Research Institute, Turkey
- Kaan Soyak, Turkish Armenian Business Development Council, Turkey
- Arsen Ghazaryan, Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen (Employers) of Armenia, Armenia
- Artush Mkrtchyan, Chairman, Caucasian Center for Proposing Non-Traditional Conflict Resolution Methods, Gyumri, Armenia
- Guran Abashidze, Caucasus Business and Development Network, Tbilisi, Georgia
- Burcu Gultekin, Associate Research Fellow Center for European Studies, Middle East Technical University, Turkey
- Aline Ozinian, Turkish-Armenian Business Development Council, Armenia, Caucasus Business and Development Network, Turkey
- Klara Galstyan, Director, Gyumri Development Foundation, Armenia
- Levon Barseghyan, “Asparez” Journalist Club, Gyumri, Armenia
- Alu Gamakharia, Caucasus Business and Development Network, Kutaisi, Georgia
- Ashot Mirzoyan, Director, City Research Center, Gyumri, Armenia
- Karen Mkhitaryan, Chairman, Caucasian Institute for Peace Problems Research, Gyumri, Armenia
- Ararat Harutyunyan, Founder “Hayraqakhak” weekly newspaper, Gyumri, Armenia
- Betty J. Sitka, American University, Center for Global Peace, the USA
- Stepan Grigoryan, Analytical Centre on Globalization and Regional Cooperation, Armenia
- Sevan Nişanyan, Istanbul Bilgi University, Turkey
- Osman Koker, Editor in Chief, Birzamanlar publishing, Turkey
- Serdar Kasakyan, Phd, Turkey
- Dr.Cengiz Aktar, TDN, Columunist, Turkey
- Cholpon Nogoibaeva, President, Institute for Policy Analysis and Research, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
- Maria Prohaska, Director, Center for Economic Development, Bulgaria
- Hilary Richardson, Ireland
- Gagik Makaryan, Republic Association of Employers, Armenia
- Luisa Sargsyan, Atlantic Council of Canada, Canada
- Vahan Kololian, Chairman, Mosaic Institute, Canada
- Alidad Mafinezam, Director of Research of the Mosaic Institute, Canada
- Gayane Sargsyan, Forum for the 21st Century Leaders, Armenia
- Ed Safarian, Toronto University, Canada
- Irina Ivaskina, project manager, Latvian Transatlantic Organization, president, Latvian Transatlantic Youth Club, Georgia
- Ece Erbuğ- GS University, Turkey
- Aghasi Harutyunyan, Phd, Armenia
- Hasmik Tamamyan, Masters, Armenia
- Philip Gamaghelyan, Imagine Program for Conflict Transformation, Boston, the USA
- Dr Arcadie Barbarosie, Executive Director, Institute for Public Policy, Moldova
- Jeff Lovitt, Executive Director, Policy Association for an Open Society (PASOS)
- Unal Unsal, Ambassador (Ret), Turkey
- Antje Herrberg, Crisis Management Initiatives, Brussels
- Aghavni Karakhanian, Institute for Civil Society and Regional Development(ICSRD), Armenia
- George Zarubin, President, Eurasia Partnership Foundation, the USA
- Gevorg Ter-Gabrielyan, Country Director, Eurasia Partnership Foundation, Armenia
- Nouneh Sarkissian, Managing Director, Internews, Media Support NGO, Armenia
- Rok Zupancic, PhD candidate at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Osman Kavala, Anadolu Kültür, Turkey
- Sehbal Senyurt (belgesel film yonetmeni), Turkey
- Bulent Arinli (belgesel film yonetmeni) , Turkey
- Yalcin Ergundogan (Journalist/writer) , Turkey
- Gilles Devers / Avocat au Barreau de Lyon, France
- Prof. Dr. Okan Akhan, Turkey
- Ergin Cinmen, Turkey
- Hikmet Acun, Turkey
- Ragıp İncesağır, Turkey
- Ibrahim Kaboglu,Professor of Constitutional Law, (Marmara Universitesi), Columnist (BirGun) , Turkey
- Markar Esayan/Taraf, Turkey
- Esra Mungan, Bogazici University, Turkey
- Mehmet Atak, Turkey
- Prof. Dr. Okan Akhan, Turkey
- Ergin Cinmen, Turkey
- Neşe Erdilek- Sosyolog, Turkey
- Ergun Gümrah/iletişimci, Turkey
- CIGDEM MATER UTKU/ANADOLU KULTUR PROGRAM KOORDINATORU, Turkey
- Doc. Dr. Serdar M. Degirmencioglu, Psikolog, Turkey
- Murat Özgünay, Turkey
- Nilgun Uygun, Ph.D. Department of Cultural Anthropology Duke University, USA
- Kuvvet lordoğlu, Turkey
- Zafer Kıraç/Sosyal Kültürel Yaşamı Geliştirme Derneği Yönetim Kurulu Başkanı, Turkey
- Koray Doğan Urbarlı, Turkey
- Erdal Karayazgan, Turkey
- Aynur Hayrullahoğlu, Turkey
- Gündüz Mutluay - Yayıncı, Turkey
- Kostas Eftimiyadis, Turkey
- Nuri Ödemiş-Barış Aktivisti, Turkey
- Caner Canerik/Gazeteci, Turkey
- Mebuse Tekay, Turkey
- Ferhat Kentel/Istanbul Bilgi University, Turkey
- Çiğdem Yalçın Pamukçu /Helsinki Yurttaşlar Derneği Üyesi, Turkey
- Dr. Timur Akçalı, YTÜ, Turkey
- Melek Ulagay, Turkey
- Ayda Manukyan, Turkey
- Yalçın Ergündoğan /Gazeteci, yazar, Turkey
- Firuz Kutal - Graphic Designer, illustrator, Turkey
- Hasan öztoprak, Turkey
- Erkan ŞEN/Genç Siviller, Turkey
- Yalçın Ergündoğan / Yalcin Ergundogan (Journalist/writer) , Turkey
- Kemal ISIKTAS, Turkey
- Oya Baydar, Turkey
- Aydın Engin, Turkey
- Profesör Kenan Mortan, Turkey
- H. Jale Meric, Greenville NC, USA
- Dr. Rana Nergis Öğüt/ODTU Mimarlık Fakültesi, Turkey
- Mine Koçak, Turkey
- Celalettin Can, Turkey
- Gozde Avci, Turkey
- Zeki Kentel Hurses / columnist, Turkey
- Neşe Düzel/taraf Gazetesi, Turkey
- Erol Özkoray (yazar), Turkey
- Abdulhalim Dede- gazeteci, Turkey
- Ural Manço/Insan ve azinlik haklari icin Turk azinlik hareketi, Turkey
- NİLÜFER ARIAK/AKDAN DANIŞMANLIK, Turkey
- Yrd. Doc. Dr. Sevilay Celenk/AU ILEF, Turkey
- Murat Aksoy, Turkey
- Efrah Ceyhan, Turkey