A conference organised in The Hague by LINKS Europe Foundation brought together experts and activists from the South Caucasus, the European Union and beyond to discuss the current state of political transition in the region. The gathering gave particular attention to the European Union's evolving role in the region amidst rapidly changing domestic and regional dynamics as well as Türkiye's influence as a regional power.
The full-day conference "The South Caucasus: Again in Transition" held in The Hague’s New Babylon Conference Centre on 3 April attracted a wide range of stakeholders, think tanks, diplomats and policy practitioners from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, as well as from the European Union and Türkiye. Participants engaged in constructive dialogue with a view to outline the foundations for long-term regional cooperation in the context of efforts being made for a sustainable peace in the South Caucasus.
In his opening remarks, LINKS Europe Director Dr Dennis Sammut said the South Caucasus remained unfinished work and all three countries still had a lot to do but they can be proud of their considerable achievements as well as for consolidating their independence, despite Russian meddling.
The conference included panel discussions focusing on two key external actors whose importance to the region is increasing: the European Union and Türkiye. It was noted that lasting peace can only be achieved through structured cooperation and the active involvement of both the European Union and Türkiye who have a crucial role to play, with the EU called upon to develop a clear strategy in the region and Türkiye urged to better define its interests and responsibilities.
The conference highlighted that transition in the South Caucasus is far from complete despite the consolidation of independence together with the progress made through initiatives for dialogue and confidence-building between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
The conference was held one day after LINKS Europe convened the first meeting of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Expert Political Dialogue Platform in The Hague, a non-governmental platform to support direct dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan. During the meeting chaired by LINKS Europe, six expert members from both countries engaged in an open discussion, emphasising the need to build on recent progress in direct negotiations between the two nations including agreements on border demarcation and the framework for a peace agreement. The meeting underlined a shared call for a renewed unified EU strategy in the region and the support of confidence-building measures, such as enhanced media engagement.
LINKS Europe's core mission has consistently been to support the process of peace. This work, over the years, has contributed at various moment to peace efforts in the region: between Georgians and Ossetians and Abkhaz, and between Armenians and Azerbaijanis. LINKS Europe has throughout advocated dialogue and co-operation between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, including through the South Caucasus Parliamentary Initiative between 1998 and 2008, and the Joint Liaison Group of Armenia-Azerbaijan Experts, JOLIG, between 2021-2023. A report published by JOLIG in April 2022, “Thirty measures between now and 2030”, proposed thirty confidence building measures between Armenians and Azerbaijanis, that remain valid to this day.
