Country: Armenia

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The Church of St Gregory in the ruined city of Ani, the capital of the Bagratid Armenian kingdom, now in eastern Turkey (photo: Filip Warwick)

Challenging Turkish history from the ground up

"The stories of our families"

More and more voices are being raised in Turkey that challenge previous versions of the country's history. These alternative accounts, still largely ignored by official quarters, are breaching longstanding taboos and deconstructing the political narrative. By Ceyda NurtschMore

Public opinion in Turkey: Dreaming of a greater republicThe Turkish state and the Kurdish question: Turkey – a battle of narratives Turkey-Armenia relations: Normalisation after 31 years of tension?The AKP's version of Turkish history: Contrasting interpretations of Gallipoli
Irans Oberster Führer Ayatollah Ali Khamenei; Foto: Imagae Images Zuma Wire

Iran and the Ukraine war

Ali Khamenei prepares for the future

The Ukraine war is changing the global geopolitical landscape. Ali Khamenei, Iran's most powerful man, is already cosying up to Russia in anticipation of a harsh post-war reality. By Ali SadrzadehMore

Ukraine war: Iran – at Putin's beck and call?War in Ukraine: Iran's conflict of interests Iran nuclear talks enter ‘final stage’: Iran's Vienna gambit
The flags of Turkey and the USA (photo: imago/imagebroker)

Public opinion in Turkey

Dreaming of a greater republic

Many Turks are dissatisfied with the international status of their country. At the same time, opinion polls reveal great scepticism among the Turkish population towards the USA. By Ronald MeinardusMore

Ukraine conflict: Turkey and Israel eye co-operation in Central AsiaTurkey-Armenia relations: Normalisation after 31 years of tension?Turkey and Central Asia: One nation, six states?
Hydroelectric power station in Jinghong, China (photo: picture-alliance)

Middle East

Water resources – another conflict trigger?

From the Euphrates to the Mekong, dams that ensure one country's water supply risk leaving others parched. But shared water resources can be a source of peace as well as conflict. By Ruby RussellMore

Interview with political scientist Tobias Zumbraegel: How are Middle East countries coping with climate change?Arab world: Conflict and climate change drive Syria's water crisisClimate heroes in Iraq: A life for the trees
Flirting with nationalist support: Erdogan with MHP leader Devlet Bahceli (photo: DHA)

Turkey and Central Asia

One nation, six states?

Turkey is turning towards the Turkic nations of Central Asia, intensifying its economic, diplomatic and military relationships with these countries. So what is driving Turkey’s Central Asia policy? Are we seeing a resurgence in nationalist Pan-Turkic geopolitics? Essay by Yasar AydinMore

Turkey-Armenia relations: Normalisation after 31 years of tension?Turkey – past, present and future: After Erdogan, what then?Interview with Georgian historian Beka Kobakhidze: Europe risks being outmanoeuvred in the restive Caucasus
Turkish and Armenian flags (photo: Zoonar/picture-alliance)

Turkey-Armenia relations

Normalisation after 31 years of tension?

Turkish-Armenian rapprochement kicked off in Moscow in January, after a break of 13 years. This time, focusing on relatively easy fixes such as trade and transportation, both countries are emphasising a lack of pre-conditions. Turkey is nevertheless reluctant to let third countries, such as Russia, to play a role in the process. By Leyla EgeliMore

Georgian historian Beka Kobakhidze: Europe risks being outmanoeuvred in the CaucasusRecep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin: Sunni Islam meets Russian orthodoxyRelations between Armenia and Turkey: Uncertainty until the endThe Armenian genocide: The search for truth and the historical context
Russian President Vladimir Putin (r) with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on 28.12.2021 (photo: Sputnik Kremlin/dpa/picture-alliance)

Protests in Kazakhstan

Putin's nightmare?

Russia is seeking to shore up the government of Kazakhstan and is sending in the military. For President Putin, there is more at stake than simply his influence in a partner country that is currently being rocked by unrest. By Roman Goncharenko, Emily Sherwin and Olga SosnytskaMore

Kazakhstan president sacks cabinet in bid to head off protestsOpinion: Kazakhstan unrest will curtail Moscow's aggressionIslamic revival in Kazakhstan: A pragmatic IslamBetween Russia and Afghanistan: Kyrgyzstan – fragile democracy in Central Asia
Protest in Erevan, Armenia (photo: Lusi Sargsiyan/Tass/dpa/picture-alliance)

Interview with Georgian historian Beka Kobakhidze

Europe risks being outmanoeuvred in the restive Caucasus

The balance of power on Europe's eastern borders is shifting. Georgian historian Beka Kobakhidze speaks from Tbilisi about rivalry and emerging alliances in the region, an impotent EU and disappointed pro-democracy activists. Interview by Elisa Rheinheimer-ChabbiMore

Refusing to be sucked in: Russia and Turkey keep powder dry in Nagorno-KarabakhArmenia, Azerbaijan – and Nagorno-Karabakh: “Germany is pretending not to see or hear“France, Turkey and the Caucasus: French Armenians plead for Nagorno-Karabakh interventionTurkish-Russian relations: Farewell AmericaRecep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin: Sunni Islam meets Russian orthodoxy
Fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh (photo: AP/picture-alliance)

Armenia, Azerbaijan – and Nagorno-Karabakh

“Germany is pretending not to see or hear“

After more than a month of war, there is a new ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan. But whether it will last remains questionable. The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh sees Turkey deploying mercenaries, Israel supplying weapons – and Germany keeping a low profile. German-Armenian lawyer Ilias Uyar is sharply critical. Gerrit Wustmann spoke to himMore

Refusing to be sucked in: Russia and Turkey keep powder dry in Nagorno-KarabakhFrance, Turkey and the Caucasus: French Armenians plead for Nagorno-Karabakh intervention What’s behind the Armenia and Azerbaijan conflict?
The fighting for Shusha could be observed from the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh, Stepakanert (photo: picture-alliance/dpa)

Refusing to be sucked in

Russia and Turkey keep powder dry in Nagorno-Karabakh

Sensitive to the threat of wider confrontation, Russia and Turkey are for now limiting involvement in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to providing humanitarian assistance and some military aid. Maria Tsvetkova and Olzhas Auyezov reportMore

France, Turkey and the Caucasus: French Armenians plead for Nagorno-Karabakh intervention Qantara dossier: Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Ragiba Guliyeva in front of the rubble of her home (photo: Julia Hahn/DW)

Human toll in Azerbaijan-Armenia fight for Nagorno-Karabakh

Azerbaijan and Armenia have been at war again over the Nagorno-Karabakh region in the South Caucasus for over a month. Three ceasefires have failed. The conflict is taking its toll on civilians. More...More

France, Turkey and the Caucasus: French Armenians plead for Nagorno-Karabakh intervention Azerbaijan and Armenia brush off suggestion of peace talksNagorno-Karabakh refugees find shelter in Armenia
President Erdogan gives a speech (photo: picture-alliance/dpa/Turkish Presidential Press Office)

Treading the Turkish tightrope

The European Union risks empowering Erdogan at its peril

Fraught with disagreement, relations between the EU and Turkey under Erdogan have rarely been easy. Bearing in mind recent developments, the Union needs to present a clear and united front in its dealings with Ankara. By Marc PieriniMore

Escalation or mediation in the Eastern Med? Turkey and Greece at loggerheads over maritime sovereigntyInterview with Middle East analyst Stephan Roll: "Egypt's leadership feels markedly threatened by Turkey"Libyan civil war: Turkey versus France – a game of one-upmanship in Libya?
French Armenians demonstrate in Paris (photo: Lisa Louis/DW)

France, Turkey and the Caucasus

French Armenians plead for Nagorno-Karabakh intervention

The Armenian diaspora in France – the largest in Western Europe – is urging the country to do more to support Yerevan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. But Paris is, so far, acting with restraint. Lisa Louis reportsMore

Armenia and Azerbaijan allege breaches as new ceasefire beginsThe Armenian genocide: The search for truth and the historical contextRelations between Armenia and Turkey: Uncertainty until the end
Manacles (photo: picture-alliance/dpa/B. Pedersen)

Muslim racism and imperialism

Power and exclusion

The outpouring of solidarity worldwide following the violent death of George Floyd should prompt us to step back and fundamentally question racist structures and privileges based on injustice – wherever they exist in the world. An essay by Tayfun GuttstadtMore

Black Lives Matter in Egypt: The controversy surrounding racism – are Arabs racist?Human rights and civil society in North Africa: Tunisia joins George Floyd protests to say "no" to racismInterview with Mauritanian human rights activist Biram Dah Abeid: "Time to end Arab racism"
Extract from the "Karin" music video (source: YouTube)

"Karin" – an Armenian-Turkish music project

From deportations to duets

"Karin" is a musical dialogue between two virtuosos seeking to reconcile the souls of their home countries through their instruments. Marian Brehmer listened to the second album of Armenian duduk virtuoso Vardan Hovanissian and Turkish baglama master Emre GultekinMore

Interview with the composer Marc Sinan: A modern-day Bartók of Turkic musicAlbum review: Ayca Miracʹ "Lazjazz": The magic of the Laz Album review: Gaye Su Akyolʹs "Istikrarl Hayal Hakikattir": Singing the revolution
War photographer Andy Spyra (photo: J. Idrizi)

Interview with war photographer Andy Spyra

The pull of war

He is one of Germany's most sought-after photographers, his main theme: war. Andy Spyra talks to Bettina Baumann about the hurdles and limits of conflict zone photography – and why it fascinates himMore

Kai Wiedenhofer′s ″War on Wall″: In your face... and rightly soInterview with war photographer Christoph Bangert: The naked brutality of warInterview with American photojournalist Michael Kamber: Dispelling the myths of war and war photography

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