Ethnic Armenian-Azeri coexistence in Georgia
December 28th, 2009 by Onnik Krikorian
Ethnic Armenian, Tsopi, Georgia © Onnik Krikorian
It might be no surprise for some that ethnic groups can and do live side by side in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, but the situation is not so clear in the regions of Armenia, Azerbaijan or Georgia. But, perhaps, that in itself is a stereotype put into circulation by many. Armenians and Azeris, for example, have long maintained that while both lived side by side in urban centers such as Yerevan and Baku prior to the Karabakh conflict, they did not in rural areas. To some extent this is true, but not entirely.
In Marneuli, a city of around 20,000 people, residents say as much as 15-20 percent of the population is ethnic Armenian. The rest are ethnic Azeris. Moreover, despite the line from nationalists on both sides that neither group can be trusted, Armenians from Armenia actually have to pass through regions where most of Georgia’s 280,000 Azeris reside to reach Tbilisi, and they do so without problems. Moreover, at Marneuli’s market, Armenian, Azeri and Georgians trade side by side.
Ethnic Azeri, Marneuli, Georgia © Onnik Krikorian
Georgian blogger Dodka tweeted her impressions while visiting the town for Transitions Online’s Steady State.
Around 35 kilometers south just a few kilometers from Georgia’s border with Armenia, the situation becomes even more intriguing as small pockets of ethnic Armenians can be found in mainly Azeri villages. In Tsopi, for example, about a third of inhabitants are Armenians from around 150-200 families. All live side by side and speak the others’ language. Of course, things are far from idyllic in the village with unemployment high and the school particularly in dire need of attention.
School, Tsopi, Georgia © Onnik Krikorian
Nevertheless, both Marneuli and Tsopi, along with many other examples of peaceful coexistence between minority groups, including those otherwise in conflict elsewhere, perhaps highlight the influence of the media in countries such as Armenia and Azerbaijan in shaping perceptions and attitudes. Indeed, it could be argued that journalists have effectively become combatants, pushing negative information and spreading partisan information rather than remaining neutral.
Over the coming days and weeks this blog will highlight such examples using new media and social networking tools and stories, photos, and video as a continuation of a brief cross-border exercise undertaken in September. Follow us on Twitter @caucasusproject.
This post is also available in Russian and Azerbaijani.
Twitter Trackbacks for Steady State » Blog Archive » Ethnic Armenian-Azeri coexistence in Georgia [tol.org] on Topsy.com said:
[...] Steady State » Blog Archive » Ethnic Armenian-Azeri coexistence in Georgia cau.blogs.tol.org/2009/12/28/ethnic-armenian-azeri-coexistence-in-georgia – view page – cached It might be no surprise for some that ethnic groups can and do live side by side in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, but the situation is not so clear in the regions of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Or, perhaps, that itself is a stereotype put into circulation by many. Armenians and Azeris, for example, have long maintained that while both lived side by side in urban centers such as Yerevan… Read moreIt might be no surprise for some that ethnic groups can and do live side by side in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, but the situation is not so clear in the regions of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Or, perhaps, that itself is a stereotype put into circulation by many. Armenians and Azeris, for example, have long maintained that while both lived side by side in urban centers such as Yerevan and Baku prior to the Karabakh conflict, they did not in rural areas. To some extent this is true, but not entirely. View page [...]
December 28th, 2009 at 2:29 am
Onnik Krikorian said:
An audio slideshow, along with much more is coming, but until then, some photos from Marneuli, Tsopi and Tbilisi are available at:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=185354&id=584522500&l=511f6a6567
December 28th, 2009 at 2:34 am
Steady State » Blog Archive » Ethnic Armenian-Azeri coexistence in … | azerbaijantoday said:
[...] more from the original source: Steady State » Blog Archive » Ethnic Armenian-Azeri coexistence in … Share and [...]
December 28th, 2009 at 4:47 am
Vartan said:
Armenians and Azeris don’t have a problem with each other. I know many that married each other.
It is the government, the leaders that make enemies of others- so the civilians will hate and destroy one another. Governments start the propaganda of demonizing the people of the other country that they are your enemy. Look what the US government has done to manipulate the American population against Iranians? Iraqis? Afghanis? Russians? They make them appear as a threat to their safety or livlihood.
December 28th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Steady State » Blog Archive » Сосуществование этнических армян и азербайджанцев в Грузии said:
[...] Steady State « Ethnic Armenian-Azeri coexistence in Georgia [...]
December 28th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Steady State » Blog Archive » Etnik ermənilərin və azərbaycanlıların Gürcüstanda yanaşı yaşaması said:
[...] to A. for voluntarily translation of the original post in English into Azerbaijani. Print This Post var [...]
December 29th, 2009 at 7:12 am
Armenia & the South Caucasus | The Caucasian Knot » Ethnic Armenian-Azeri coexistence in Georgia said:
[...] The full post is available on Transitions Online’s Steady State. [...]
December 29th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Armenia & the South Caucasus | The Caucasian Knot » La coexistencia de armenios y azeríes en Georgia said:
[...] to A. for voluntarily translation of the original post in English into Azerbaijani, Russian and [...]
December 29th, 2009 at 11:21 am
Global Voices Online » Overcoming negative stereotypes in the South Caucasus said:
[...] Marneuli and Tsopi, two locations where ethnic Armenians and Azeris also coexist together, Dodka again tweeted the same observations [...]
December 31st, 2009 at 9:17 am