Free Republic

Donald Trump is hosting the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Washington this week for a summit which could advance a much-anticipated peace agreement between the two. The meeting would send a strong signal to Moscow regarding the two countries' commitment to finding a solution without Russia. The leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia are set to meet US President Donald Trump for a peace summit in Washington on Thursday and Friday, which could advance a much-anticipated peace deal between the two countries. After almost four decades of bitter conflict, Baku and Yerevan might finally settle for peace in the region...

A recent study using drone mapping has revealed that Dmanisis Gora, a 3,000-year-old mountainside fortress in the Caucasus Mountains, is far bigger than previously thought. The discoveries also prompted a reassessment of settlement dynamics during the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages...Their work, ongoing since 2018, has revealed that Dmanisis Gora is not only a major archaeological site in the South Caucasus but also a critical case study for understanding ancient urbanism and population dynamics...Initial excavations took place near a fortified promontory between two deep gorges. However, the fall visit — when thick summer foliage had receded — revealed remains...

Turkey said Friday it would push on with efforts to normalize ties with Armenia despite a U.S. congressional panel vote labeling as genocide the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915. Turkish leaders reacted with fury over the approval on Thursday of the non-binding resolution by the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, although it was unclear whether the bill would be considered by the full House. President Abdullah Gul, whose visit to Armenia in 2008 led to the peace initiative, said the U.S. vote would hurt efforts to bring peace and stability to the South Caucasus,...

Landlocked and poor, Armenia is looking even more vulnerable. Most of its fuel and much of its grain comes through Georgia's Black Sea ports, which are virtually paralyzed. The capital city of Yerevan is already experiencing a serious fuel shortage, where many filling stations have halted sales of gasoline and supplies of key commodities such as jet fuel and wheat are dwindling. Armenia is reportedly trying to secure additional fuel supplies through Iran, its only remaining neighbor whose border remains open. This is the moment for Turkey to step forward. By re-opening the rail line linking the eastern province of...