Region

South Caucasus

The South Caucasus – a region encompassing Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia - is one of strategic importance, not only for adjacent countries, such as Turkiye, Russia, Iran and the Central Asian states, but also for neighbours such as the European Union and the GCC states, and globally for the United States, India, China, Pakistan and Japan.

commonspace.eu team brings decades of experience of working in the South Caucasus and we are pleased to share our insights with our loyal readers through the website, and the sister newsletter, Caucasus Concise.

Editor's choice
Opinion
Turkish policy in the South Caucasus and relations with Russia

Turkish policy in the South Caucasus and relations with Russia

Turkey-Russia relations are typically based on compartmentalization. They simultaneously compete and cooperate in various regions, separating the areas in which their interests are overlapping from those where they are in competition. This concept was the base of their competing relations in Syria until the demise of Assad regime in 2024, and mutual interactions in post-Gaddafi Libya.
Editor's choice
Opinion
People-to-People Contact Remains Absent in Armenia–Azerbaijan Normalisation

People-to-People Contact Remains Absent in Armenia–Azerbaijan Normalisation

“You must be glad to be here,” the bartender told my friend, a journalist for a major international media outlet just arrived that evening in Yerevan from Baku via Tbilisi. He raised an eyebrow in response as the bartender slowly poured our drinks. “Why?” he asked, clearly confused. “Because Azerbaijanis are Muslims, they don’t drink, and there are no bars in Baku,” she replied, somehow absolutely convinced that she was correct. The exchange was almost comical, but revealed something deeper. Three decades of conflict had turned former neighbours into strangers. In Tbilisi, where ethnic Armenians and Azerbaijanis live side by side, it would be met with ridicule. Only last October I sat at a table where the vodka flowed as a local Armenian sang in Azerbaijani and ethnic Azerbaijanis expressed their appreciation in Armenian.

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Editor's choice
President of Armenia: The so called "diplomatic correctness" in this case is simply detrimental for the security of this region
President of Armenia: The so called "diplomatic correctness" in this case is simply detrimental for the security of this region

President of Armenia: The so called "diplomatic correctness" in this case is simply detrimental for the security of this region

I am glad to welcome you to the Presidential Palace, welcome you to Armenia. OSCE is a very important organization for Armenia not only because this Organization has in its framework several institutions - the Minsk Group, the High-level Planning Group, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Personal Representative - all of them dealing with the Nagorno Karabakh problem, but also because the OSCE principles and the comprehensive concept of security is fully shared by our country.
Editor's choice
NATO Secretary General: The most pressing regional challenge remains finding a solution to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
NATO Secretary General: The most pressing regional challenge remains finding a solution to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

NATO Secretary General: The most pressing regional challenge remains finding a solution to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Azerbaijan has a complicated neighborhood. And the most pressing regional challenge remains finding a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said speaking at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy (ADA), NATO official website reports.
Editor's choice
Prime Minister of Turkey: Ankara stands for the opening of archives for investigation of the 1915 events
Prime Minister of Turkey: Ankara stands for the opening of archives for investigation of the 1915 events

Prime Minister of Turkey: Ankara stands for the opening of archives for investigation of the 1915 events

"Ankara stands for the opening of archives for investigation of the 1915 events," Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said speaking at an international conference titled 'Arab Spring and Peace in the New Middle East: Muslim and Christian Perspectives' in Istanbul, TRT Haber TV channel reports.
Editor's choice
Protest actions against extradition and pardoning of an Azerbaijani killer to be held in front of Hungary's representation and EU building in Brussels on 8 September
Protest actions against extradition and pardoning of an Azerbaijani killer to be held in front of Hungary's representation and EU building in Brussels on 8 September

Protest actions against extradition and pardoning of an Azerbaijani killer to be held in front of Hungary's representation and EU building in Brussels on 8 September

The protest actions against extradition and pardoning of the Azerbaijani killer, Ramil Safarov, will be held in front of Hungary's representation and EU building in Brussels on 8 September.
Editor's choice
New protest actions in Spain and Canada against extradition and pardoning of Ramil Safarov
New protest actions in Spain and Canada against extradition and pardoning of Ramil Safarov

New protest actions in Spain and Canada against extradition and pardoning of Ramil Safarov

An action of protest was held in front of the Hungarian Consulate building in Madrid against extradition and pardoning of Ramil Safarov, the Azerbaijani officer who viciously murdered sleeping Armenian officer in 2004.
Editor's choice
Human rights defender: Baku's statement that it was acting within the frames of international norms directly insults international law
Human rights defender: Baku's statement that it was acting within the frames of international norms directly insults international law

Human rights defender: Baku's statement that it was acting within the frames of international norms directly insults international law

The official Baku's statement, that it was acting within the frames of the Azerbaijani legislation and international norms in the matter of Ramil Safarov's pardoning, directly insults international law, Armenian first human rights defender, Larisa Alaverdyan, told Arminfo correspondent.
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Washington is in touch with authorities Armenia and Azerbaijan regarding extradition and pardoning Azerbaijani killer Safarov
Washington is in touch with authorities Armenia and Azerbaijan regarding extradition and pardoning Azerbaijani killer Safarov

Washington is in touch with authorities Armenia and Azerbaijan regarding extradition and pardoning Azerbaijani killer Safarov

The U.S. Department of State has maintained contacts with the authorities of Azerbaijan in connection with pardoning and promoting the Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov from Hungary, Patrick Ventrell, Acting Deputy Spokesperson, said at Daily Press Briefing in Washington.