Onnik James Krikorian

The Armenia-Azerbaijan Narrative Few Wanted to Acknowledge Almost seventeen years ago, in December 2008, I worked with a film crew shooting a documentary on the Armenia and Azerbaijan conflict for Al Jazeera English.

"Armenian–Azerbaijani relations depends less on flawed frameworks of the past than on listening to people on the ground […] that have already demonstrated coexistence is possible in their everyday lives."

The Armenia-Azerbaijan Narrative Few Wanted to Acknowledge anewz.tv/opinion/news...

In the 31 years I've covered the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, the coming end of year feels way more hopeful than any time before – and then some. Not that there aren't still issues to resolve but a lot has been achieved in 2025, esp. in the last quarter. Roll on 2026. #MerryXmas

After Decades of Deadlock, a New Reality Emerges in the South Caucasus The fourth European Conference on Azerbaijani Studies was held in Vienna, Austria, on 5 December, by the European Network for Azerbaijani Studies and the Strategic Consultancy Group.

After Decades of Deadlock, a New Reality Emerges in the South Caucasus anewz.tv/opinion/news... #Armenia #Azerbaijan

«Թրամփի ծրագիրը Զանգեզուրի միջանցքից ոչնչով չի տարբերվում. մենք կտրականապես դեմ ենք դրան». Իրան Վելայաթին շեշտել է, որ ԱՄՆ-ը տնտեսական գործունեության քողի տակ ռազմական միջամտություն է կատարում տարածաշրջանում...

Nonetheless, it seems Iran remains concerned. It's imperative to allay those fears. Finalising and publicly releasing full information on TRIPP a priority. Once signed, the agreement will be final for the full 49 or 99 year lease. This is Baku's position too. #Armenia

news.am/arm/news/920...

The US Ambassador to Yerevan has given a few interviews to local media. On TRIPP, the potential is quite clear, inc. on how it should benefit Armenia and Azerbaijan. Moreover, although she is a diplomat so her words careful, she says TRIPP will not affect the Armenia-Iran border or trade across it.

How Music Can Create Unexpected Bridges Between Armenia and Azerbaijan In less than two months the Eurovision Song Contest will be held once more, this time in Switzerland. The competition, established by the European Broadcast Union in 1956, has many detractors but also...

Talking of Junior Eurovision, my post from earlier this year. I've been covering how the conflict and hopes for peace between at least two of the countries manifest itself since 2008.

How Music Can Create Unexpected Bridges Between Armenia and Azerbaijan www.commonspace.eu/opinion/how-...

As a journalist who has long covered Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest in the context of the unresolved conflict between the two countries, I was also happy to see that the Azerbaijan jury award Armenia with 3 points last night in Tbilisi. #JuniorEurovision

Nice. Armenian National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan greets Azerbaijan's entry into this year's Junior Eurovision contest, Yağmur, this week in Tbilisi. #ESC

Armenia and Azerbaijan: Rare window for peace - Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa Armenia and Azerbaijan progress toward normalization: a near-final agreement, growing political and civil dialogue, border talks and renewed exchanges. Internal opposition persists, but signs of lasti...

"[…] a near-final agreement, growing political and civil dialogue, border talks and renewed exchanges. Internal opposition persists, but signs of lasting peace are increasing."

Armenia and Azerbaijan: Rare window for peace www.balcanicaucaso.org/en/cp_articl...

Արմեն Գրիգորյանն ու Հիքմեթ Հաջիևը Դոհայում կմասնակցեն պանելային քննարկման Հայաստանի անվտանգության խորհրդի քարտուղար Արմեն Գրիգորյանը դեկտեմբերի 5-ին աշխատանքային այցով կմեկնի Կատարի մայրաքաղաք Դոհա: ԱԽ գրասենյակի փոխանցմամբ՝ Գրիգորյանը «Դոհա ֆորում»-ի շրջանակներում Ադրբեջան...

Entitled, "Armenia-Azerbaijan Lasting Peace: The Washington Agreement and a Joint Future."

Armen Grigoryan and Hikmet Hajiyev will participate in a panel discussion in Doha www.azatutyun.am/a/armen-grig...

Bridge of Peace Marks New Phase in Armenia–Azerbaijan Dialogue As the year comes to an end, a new initiative bringing civil society actors and regional analysts from Armenia and Azerbaijan together is steadily gaining ground.

Bridge of Peace Marks New Phase in Armenia–Azerbaijan Dialogue anewz.tv/opinion/news...

Armenia Heads Toward 2026 Elections Amid Deepening Church–State Division - Onnik James Krikorian - Journalist, Photojournalist, Consultant Armenians pride themselves on adopting Christianity as their national religion as early as 301 AD. It has become an almost unassailable feature of their identity as a people despite a history stretchi...

Armenia Heads Toward 2026 Elections Amid Deepening Church-State Division onnik-krikorian.com/new_site/arm...

Five years since the end of the 44-day-war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Too many missed opportunities prior to 2020 and the conflict was finally resolved on the battlefield as had been expected since at least 2011. Now need to focus on normalisation. Plenty of work to do.

Paybox newly installed in one of my local supermarkets. I never use them but good to see the language options. Hopefully one day not just Tbilisi and soon the norm throughout the region. #Armenia #Azerbaijan #Georgia

Bilateral, Not Mediated: Why Last Week’s Yerevan Meeting Mattered On October 21, 2025, an Azerbaijani Airlines (AZAL) Gulfstream G650, call sign 4K-ASG, touched down at Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport. It was a historic event, commented many.

My latest on the recent AZAL flight carrying the Azerbaijani delegation to Armenia for dialogue.

Bilateral, Not Mediated: Why Last Week’s Yerevan Meeting Mattered anewz.tv/opinion/news...

Symbolism Meets Realpolitik in Armenia-Türkiye Normalization Efforts - Onnik James Krikorian - Journalist, Photojournalist, Consultant The prospect of peace in the South Caucasus may finally be within reach. Following the high-profile meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at th...

Starting today, the illustration of Mount Ararat, otherwise known as Mount Ağrı, in neighbouring Turkiye has been removed from Armenian entry and exit stamps. Many believe that it is part of the normalisation process.

See my recent piece: onnik-krikorian.com/new_site/sym...

Will definitely be a busy year in the South Caucasus in 2026 and revolve around Armenia and Azerbaijan. Elections in the former and moving closer to normalisation between both.

Until then, my recent work plus a little older stuff since 1994 on my website: onnik-krikorian.com

First transit shipment via Azerbaijan expected to reach Armenia soon Armenian Minister of Economy, Gevorg Papoyan, said that the first transit shipment of goods through Azerbaijani territory is expected to reach Armenia soon.He made the...

“Soon, the first batch of Kazakh wheat will enter Armenia via the Aktau-Baku route, [then] by Azerbaijani and Georgian railways. Peace has been established,” Papoyan said […]."

First transit shipment via Azerbaijan expected to reach Armenia soon armenpress.am/en/article/1...

Georgi Vanyan’s Tekali Dream and Vanished Hopes for Grassroots Peace Yesterday marked the fourth anniversary of the untimely passing of Armenian theatrical director turned peace activist Georgi Vanyan. He was 58.

Yesterday marked the fourth anniversary of the untimely passing of Armenian theatrical director turned peace activist Georgi Vanyan. He was 58. My latest.

Georgi Vanyan’s Tekali Dream and Vanished Hopes for Grassroots Peace www.commonspace.eu/opinion/geor... #Armenia #Azerbaijan

Armenia Balances Between the TRIPP and Zangezur Corridor Executive Summary: The U.S.-brokered Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), which would connect Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenia, has accelerated Armenia–Azerb...

My latest.

Armenia Balances Between the TRIPP and Zangezur Corridor jamestown.org/program/arme...

Corridors, Highways, and Revisiting Key West - Onnik James Krikorian - Journalist, Photojournalist, Consultant Eurasianet last week published a piece on what we anyway knew were long-standing disagreements over the construction of a new highway that would connect Azerbaijan with Nakhichevan via Armenia as dict...

Given that Armenia-Iran trade and economic activites look set to continue and even expand, the issue of TRIPP and not obstructing the border in the south again becomes one that needs to be resolved. Reminds me of Key West. My blog post on that from January 2023.

onnik-krikorian.com/new_site/cor...

Heads down in Baku, Yerevan, Oslo, and elsewhere as Trump doesn't get his desperately sought after Nobel Peace Prize. His intent was clear from the start but it didn't work. Just hope that the agreements he facilitated aren't now forgotten. There is always next year, Donald. 😜 #Armenia #Azerbaijan

Armenia, Turkey Sign Historic Protocols… Eventually - Onnik James Krikorian - Journalist, Photojournalist, Consultant Under the watchful eyes of the United States and Russia, Armenia and Turkey have finally signed two protocols which many hope will see the normalization of relations between the two neighbouring count...

Sixteen years ago today, the Armenian and Turkish foreign ministers signed two ill-fated protocols to normalise relations. That same day, I was on the Armenia-Turkish border at one of two crossings that should have been opened. My post from back then:

onnik-krikorian.com/new_site/arm...

The National Assembly adopted the statement "On the establishment of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan" www.parliament.am/drafts.php?s...

From Frozen Ties to Open Skies: Turkish Airlines to Connect Armenia and Türkiye “Welcome to Armenia,” the pilot’s voice came over the tannoy as the Turkish Atlasjet flight touched down in Yerevan some time in 2011. “The temperature outsider is…” A normal announcement on any fligh...

The move can only be welcomed. My latest.

From Frozen Ties to Open Skies: Turkish Airlines to Connect Armenia and Türkiye www.commonspace.eu/opinion/froz...

Armenia-Turkey talks advance amid Azerbaijan peace push After meetings between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Türkiye, optimism is growing for a peace treaty by 2026. Yerevan hopes to reopen its border with Ankara. Pashinyan is aiming for concrete results to…

Momentum appears to be building on a parallel front to normalise relations between #Armenia and #Turkey

Turkish Airlines to launch regular flights to Armenia Turkish Airlines (THY) has announced the launch of regular flights to Timisoara, Romania, and Yerevan, Armenia, TRT Haber reports, citing the airline's...

Though there have been Yerevan-Istanbul for decades, that the Turkish national flag carrier will now join them on the Armenia route is quite something. Another sign of welcome progress in normalisation efforts.

Turkish Airlines to launch regular flights to Armenia armenpress.am/en/article/1...

Five Years Later, Armenians and Azerbaijanis Need to See Each Other Differently This Saturday marks the fifth anniversary of the Second Karabakh War. To be honest, and personally speaking, it had always seemed the continuation of the first waged between Armenia and Azerbaijan in ...

Five years after the Second Karabakh War, Armenians and Azerbaijanis still need to see each other differently. Beyond politics and war, authentic visuals depicting ordinary lives could help foster peace and understanding. My latest.

www.commonspace.eu/opinion/five...

Symbolism Meets Realpolitik in Armenia-Türkiye Normalization Efforts The prospect of peace in the South Caucasus may finally be within reach. Following the high-profile meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at th...

Symbolism Meets Realpolitik in Armenia-Türkiye Normalization Efforts www.commonspace.eu/opinion/symb...

Turan Research Center | Armenia Reboots From Soviet-Era Tech to AI Hub Armenia’s Soviet-era past, U.S. technological know-how, and a globally connected diaspora are converging to give the small, landlocked republic a rare chance to leapfrog into the next phase of digital...

Armenia Reboots From Soviet-Era Tech to AI Hub www.turancenter.org/analysis/arm... #NVIDIA