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:

1. Tevan Poghosyan, International Center for Human Development, Armenia
2. Noyan Soyak, Turkish-Armenian Business Development Council, Turkey
3. Natela Sakhokia, Strategic research Centre, Georgia
4. Rauf Rajabov, Editor-in-chief of «3rd View» of Analytical-information agency, Ambassador for peace, Azerbaijan
5. 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
6. Dr. Murat Cagatay, GAYA Research Institute, Turkey
7. Kaan Soyak, Turkish Armenian Business Development Council, Turkey
8. Arsen Ghazaryan, Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen (Employers) of Armenia, Armenia
9. Artush Mkrtchyan, Chairman, Caucasian Center for Proposing Non-Traditional Conflict Resolution Methods, Gyumri, Armenia
10. Guran Abashidze, Caucasus Business and Development Network, Tbilisi, Georgia
11. Burcu Gultekin, Associate Research Fellow Center for European Studies, Middle East Technical University, Turkey
12. Aline Ozinian, Turkish-Armenian Business Development Council, Armenia, Caucasus Business and Development Network, Turkey
13. Klara Galstyan, Director, Gyumri Development Foundation, Armenia
14. Levon Barseghyan, “Asparez” Journalist Club, Gyumri, Armenia
15. Alu Gamakharia, Caucasus Business and Development Network, Kutaisi, Georgia
16. Ashot Mirzoyan, Director, City Research Center, Gyumri, Armenia
17. Karen Mkhitaryan, Chairman, Caucasian Institute for Peace Problems Research, Gyumri, Armenia
18. Ararat Harutyunyan, Founder “Hayraqakhak” weekly newspaper, Gyumri, Armenia
19. Betty J. Sitka, American University, Center for Global Peace, the USA
20. Stepan Grigoryan, Analytical Centre on Globalization and Regional Cooperation, Armenia
21. Sevan Nişanyan, Istanbul Bilgi University, Turkey
22. Osman Koker, Editor in Chief, Birzamanlar publishing, Turkey
23. Serdar Kasakyan, Phd, Turkey
24. Dr.Cengiz Aktar, TDN, Columunist, Turkey
25. Cholpon Nogoibaeva, President, Institute for Policy Analysis and Research, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
26. Maria Prohaska, Director, Center for Economic Development, Bulgaria
27. Hilary Richardson, Ireland
28. Gagik Makaryan, Republic Association of Employers, Armenia
29. Luisa Sargsyan, Atlantic Council of Canada, Canada
30. Vahan Kololian, Chairman, Mosaic Institute, Canada
31. Alidad Mafinezam, Director of Research of the Mosaic Institute, Canada
32. Gayane Sargsyan, Forum for the 21st Century Leaders, Armenia
33. Ed Safarian, Toronto University, Canada
34. Irina Ivaskina, project manager, Latvian Transatlantic Organization, president, Latvian Transatlantic Youth Club, Georgia
35. Ece Erbuğ- GS University, Turkey
36. Aghasi Harutyunyan, Phd, Armenia
37. Hasmik Tamamyan, Masters, Armenia
38. Philip Gamaghelyan, Imagine Program for Conflict Transformation, Boston, the USA
39. Dr Arcadie Barbarosie, Executive Director, Institute for Public Policy, Moldova
40. Jeff Lovitt, Executive Director, Policy Association for an Open Society (PASOS)
41. Unal Unsal, Ambassador (Ret), Turkey
42. Antje Herrberg, Crisis Management Initiatives, Brussels
43. Aghavni Karakhanian, Institute for Civil Society and Regional Development(ICSRD), Armenia
44. George Zarubin, President, Eurasia Partnership Foundation, the USA
45. Gevorg Ter-Gabrielyan, Country Director, Eurasia Partnership Foundation, Armenia
46. Nouneh Sarkissian, Managing Director, Internews, Media Support NGO, Armenia
47. Rok Zupancic, PhD candidate at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
48. Osman Kavala, Anadolu Kültür, Turkey
49. Sehbal Senyurt (belgesel film yonetmeni), Turkey
50. Bulent Arinli (belgesel film yonetmeni) , Turkey
51. Yalcin Ergundogan (Journalist/writer) , Turkey
52. Gilles Devers / Avocat au Barreau de Lyon, France
53. Prof. Dr. Okan Akhan, Turkey
54. Ergin Cinmen, Turkey
55. Hikmet Acun, Turkey
56. Ragıp İncesağır, Turkey
57. Ibrahim Kaboglu,Professor of Constitutional Law, (Marmara Universitesi), Columnist (BirGun) , Turkey
58. Markar Esayan/Taraf, Turkey
59. Esra Mungan, Bogazici University, Turkey
60. Mehmet Atak, Turkey
61. Prof. Dr. Okan Akhan, Turkey
62. Ergin Cinmen, Turkey
63. Neşe Erdilek- Sosyolog, Turkey
64. Ergun Gümrah/iletişimci, Turkey
65. CIGDEM MATER UTKU/ANADOLU KULTUR PROGRAM KOORDINATORU, Turkey
66. Doc. Dr. Serdar M. Degirmencioglu, Psikolog, Turkey
67. Murat Özgünay, Turkey
68. Nilgun Uygun, Ph.D. Department of Cultural Anthropology Duke University, USA
69. Kuvvet lordoğlu, Turkey
70. Zafer Kıraç/Sosyal Kültürel Yaşamı Geliştirme Derneği Yönetim Kurulu Başkanı, Turkey
71. Koray Doğan Urbarlı, Turkey
72. Erdal Karayazgan, Turkey
73. Aynur Hayrullahoğlu, Turkey
74. Gündüz Mutluay - Yayıncı, Turkey
75. Kostas Eftimiyadis, Turkey
76. Nuri Ödemiş-Barış Aktivisti, Turkey
77. Caner Canerik/Gazeteci, Turkey
78. Mebuse Tekay, Turkey
79. Ferhat Kentel/Istanbul Bilgi University, Turkey
80. Çiğdem Yalçın Pamukçu /Helsinki Yurttaşlar Derneği Üyesi, Turkey
81. Dr. Timur Akçalı, YTÜ, Turkey
82. Melek Ulagay, Turkey
83. Ayda Manukyan, Turkey
84. Yalçın Ergündoğan /Gazeteci, yazar, Turkey
85. Firuz Kutal - Graphic Designer, illustrator, Turkey
86. Hasan öztoprak, Turkey
87. Erkan ŞEN/Genç Siviller, Turkey
88. Yalçın Ergündoğan / Yalcin Ergundogan (Journalist/writer) , Turkey
89. Kemal ISIKTAS, Turkey
90. Oya Baydar, Turkey
91. Aydın Engin, Turkey
92. Profesör Kenan Mortan, Turkey
93. H. Jale Meric, Greenville NC, USA
94. Dr. Rana Nergis Öğüt/ODTU Mimarlık Fakültesi, Turkey
95. Mine Koçak, Turkey
96. Celalettin Can, Turkey
97. Gozde Avci, Turkey
98. Zeki Kentel Hurses / columnist, Turkey
99. Neşe Düzel/taraf Gazetesi, Turkey
100. Erol Özkoray (yazar), Turkey
101. Abdulhalim Dede- gazeteci, Turkey
102. Ural Manço/Insan ve azinlik haklari icin Turk azinlik hareketi, Turkey
103. NİLÜFER ARIAK/AKDAN DANIŞMANLIK, Turkey
104. Yrd. Doc. Dr. Sevilay Celenk/AU ILEF, Turkey
105. Murat Aksoy, Turkey
106. Efrah Ceyhan, Turkey