Author: Tatoyan Vazgen

As the sun rises over the picturesque city of Antalya, a historic moment unfolds, signifying a potential thaw in the frosty relations between neighboring nations. Ararat Mirzoyan, Armenia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, is set to grace the Antalya Diplomacy Forum from March 1-3, marking a significant gesture of diplomacy towards Türkiye. This visit not only underscores a commitment to dialogue but also sends a powerful message of hope for a future where mutual understanding and cooperation can flourish.

In the labyrinth of international relations, the path towards reconciliation is often fraught with challenges and setbacks. However, Mirzoyan's decision to attend the Antalya Diplomacy Forum is a testament to the resilience of diplomatic efforts. This isn't the first time the Armenian Foreign Minister has participated in the forum, which speaks volumes about the ongoing commitment to engage in meaningful dialogue. The forum provides a unique platform for leaders from various countries to come together, discuss pressing global issues, and explore avenues for cooperation.

The significance of Mirzoyan's visit extends beyond the bilateral relations between Armenia and Türkiye. It unfolds against a backdrop of complex geopolitical dynamics, including recent remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin on US relations and Russia's actions concerning Estonia's Prime Minister over Soviet monuments. These developments highlight the intricate web of international relations and the importance of diplomatic engagement in navigating these challenges. As countries grapple with their histories and seek to forge a path forward, the role of diplomacy in bridging divides and fostering peace becomes increasingly paramount.

While Mirzoyan's visit is a hopeful sign, it also underscores the myriad challenges that lie ahead. The journey towards normalizing relations between Armenia and Türkiye will require not only political will but also a deep commitment to addressing longstanding grievances and building mutual trust. The Antalya Diplomacy Forum offers a rare opportunity for open dialogue, which could pave the way for more substantive discussions in the future. However, the success of these diplomatic endeavors will ultimately depend on the willingness of both parties to engage in a process of genuine reconciliation and cooperation.

As the Antalya Diplomacy Forum draws near, the eyes of the world are on Antalya, watching as history is made. Mirzoyan's visit signifies a beacon of hope for a region long marred by conflict and division. In the intricate dance of diplomacy, every step forward is a victory, and this visit may very well mark the beginning of a new chapter in the relations between Armenia and Türkiye. The path forward is fraught with challenges, but the promise of peace and cooperation offers a compelling reason to persevere. As nations come together in the spirit of dialogue, the possibility of a brighter, more harmonious future emerges, reminding us all of the transformative power of diplomacy.

• We lived in Bolivia when my kids were in elementary school.
• By the time they were in middle and upper school we were living in Armenia. 
• School shootings in the US impacted their mental health. 

My children have had the unique and wonderful opportunity to grow up overseas and attend school in Bolivia and Armenia.

We lived in Bolivia when they were in lower elementary school and Armenia when they were in middle and upper elementary school, respectively.

However, when it came time to move back home to the US, from the outside, what we had been observing was distressing. From extreme political polarization to fears of an economic recession, to most concerning for a family with school-aged children — the rise of school shootings, the idea of returning to the United States and enrolling my now middle and high school-aged children was terrifying.

This fear for my children's safety and relative powerlessness to protect them was further exacerbated by my inability to have good answers to the difficult questions my children were asking me. I knew that to help my children feel safe and more positively embrace the idea of returning to public school in the United States, I had to once again don the hat from my academic roots as a clinically trained social worker and set my mothering hat aside.

It was essential for me to approach these interactions with my children in this way, to be sufficiently mindful of my concerns and fears, which then put me in a better position to listen to my children and distinguish between my reactions and theirs.

The first and best lesson of social work is to listen. I had to listen to the thoughts and fears my children expressed to understand the impact that school shootings were having on them.

Their questions ranged from "Will I be safe?" and "Why are school shootings happening in the United States so often and not as much overseas?" As a parent, they were hard to answer, but after listening and now with greater awareness of my children's specific concerns and feelings, I was prepared and more equipped to engage in deeper discussions.

As a family, we took part in a series of discussions that ran the gamut from bullying and mental health, which centered on the reasons that lead individuals to choose gun violence, to finding ways to use empathy and kindness toward others to identify and potentially intervene in instances of bullying, to understanding the national debate around gun control and school safety, among other topics.

I told them it's normal to be scared

These conversations allowed us a space to put school shootings into greater context for our children and helped them understand how to articulate what they need to feel safe.

Listening to our children through these discussions taught us to accept the sad reality of school shootings in the United States, to embrace that we don't and won't have all the answers and that it is completely reasonable to feel scared and concerned about the possibility of a school shooting happening.

Putting my parenting hat back on to help turn the corner on their valid concerns about returning to the United States, we reassured them that while a familiar occurrence in the United States, school shootings remain rare.

We showed them that most schools, including the ones they are currently enrolled in, have implemented safety and security plans to help reassure them that significant efforts are being made on an ongoing basis to ensure their safety.

Most importantly, by carving out time for these intentional discussions, we created a safe space to share what they are thinking and feeling, and to demonstrate that they are not alone.

The Armenian Defense Ministry on Saturday dismissed a statement from Azerbaijan regarding alleged shelling, labeling it as disinformation.

The ministry's press service refuted claims about a reported incident on February 24, where Armenian Armed Forces allegedly fired upon Azerbaijani positions, as untrue. The defense department clarified that on the said date, at approximately 12:30 pm local time, units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces initiated the attack on Armenian positions in the Verin Shorzha region of Gegharkunik, refuting Azerbaijan's version of events.

Notably, the Armenian side did not report any casualties from the incident.

Both countries' defense ministries are blaming each other for the deadly cross-border exchange. It is the most serious incident since they renewed their attempts at peace.

Armenia, on Tuesday, said four of its soldiers have been killed along the nation's heavily guarded border by Azerbaijani forces, even as the countries are involved in peace talks to end a 30-year-long conflict.

"Four were killed and one injured as a result of fire on Armenian positions from Azerbaijani troops," the Armenian defence ministry said in a statement.

Azerbaijan's border service responded to the statement, saying it had staged a "revenge operation" in retaliation for a "provocation" Armenian forces had committed the day before. Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said Armenian forces had fired at Baku's positions along a northwestern section of the border.

Armenia has denied these claims.

The Kremlin on Tuesday called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to exercise restraint following the latest incident.

Russia — formally allied to Armenia but also has ties with Azerbaijan — has a contingent of peacekeepers deployed in the region, and its border guards patrol Armenia's frontiers.

Yerevan and Baku have fought two wars and seen three decades of conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

In September 2023, Azerbaijan reclaimed the disputed region in a lightning offensive against Armenian separatists who had controlled it since the collapse of the Soviet Union. It prompted a rapid exodus of almost all of the territory's Armenian inhabitants.

Both countries have since been part of renewed attempts at peace. However, the talks have stagnated lately with both countries accusing each other of sabotaging diplomatic efforts.