As diplomatic efforts to resolve political disputes continue in the Caucasus, civil society groups from countries in the region are working on projects that they hope will help bring hostile nations together. About two years after a joint venture of Turks and Armenians unveiled what has come to be known as “peace cheese,” Turkish, Armenian and Georgian businessmen are now planning to extend their portfolio of Caucasus “peace” products, adding honey to their list.
Businessmen from Turkey, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan gathered in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, July 17-20 for the second “Caucasian Cheese Exhibition,” organized by the Caucasus Business and Development Network (CBDN) in a bid to promote sectoral cooperation in the volatile region ravaged by protracted ethnic conflicts. The cheese they put on exhibit is a mixture of cheese types from different parts of the region. During the four-day event, CBDN also offered “Caucasus Bouquet,” a wine brand jointly created by Caucasus winemakers, as an accompaniment to the cheese tasting.
The exhibition brought together people from many spheres, including CBDN’s Turkey, Armenia and Georgia project coordinators Alin Ozinian, Artush Mkrtcyhan and Tengiz Svanidze, as well as cheese experts and cheese producers.
Speaking to Today’s Zaman, Ozinian, who is also the press representative of the Turkish-Armenian Business Council (TABDC), said there are now efforts to produce a Caucasian honey and that talks with honey producers regarding the project are already under way, adding that producers have welcomed the idea of producing “Caucasus honey.” She said the initiative was more aimed at strengthening confidence and regional cooperation among Caucasus nations than making commercial profit.
In 2008, Turkish, Armenian, Azerbaijani and Georgian producers unveiled what they called “Caucasian cheese” in Gyumri, Armenia. The initiative came to symbolize reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia and across the Caucasus.
Turkey and Armenia have had no formal ties since 1993, when Turkey closed its border and severed diplomatic ties in show of solidarity with Azerbaijan, who was fighting a war with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Hopes for reconciliation emerged when President Abdullah Gül visited Armenia in September 2008 to watch a football game between the national teams of the two countries. The two countries signed protocols in October 2009 to restore normal ties but progress has been slow since then, and whether and when they will be implemented remain an open question.
Today’s Zaman
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