Envoy to NATO: Armenian civil society members' Baku visit marks shift to public dialogue

A meeting between civil society representatives from Azerbaijan and Armenia marks a shift from intergovernmental diplomacy to public dialogue aimed at promoting a peaceful agenda between the two countries, Jafar Huseynzada, Azerbaijan’s representative to NATO, wrote on X.

 “Armenian civil society members visited Baku as part of the Azerbaijan-Armenian "Bridge of Peace" Initiative, a development that marks a new phase in the peace process by directly involving civil society in bilateral dialogue,” Caliber.Az quotes Huseynzada as saying on X.

He added: “The visit included discussions on advancing mutual understanding and potential joint projects, with agreements to intensify media cooperation and establish direct expert contacts. This effort represents a shift from state-led diplomacy to grassroots peacebuilding, with a focus on fostering reconciliation between the two countries.”

Commenting on the visit, Kamala Mammadova, editor-in-chief of 1news.az, said this visit took place in a constructive and collaborative atmosphere.  

Mammadova, who participated in the meetings, said the Armenian group also met with the Azerbaijani president’s aide Hikmet Hajiyev. “Hajiyev responded to questions from the Armenian delegation. Discussions covered current issues, the peace agenda, and prospects for future joint projects. Key areas of cooperation included media collaboration, expert contacts, and more active involvement of civil society in the process. A cultural program was also organized,” she added.

During the visit, civil society representatives from both countries discussed the dynamics of the peace process between Baku and Yerevan, the role of civil society in fostering dialogue, and potential joint projects to be implemented in the near future. Current topics of interest to both Azerbaijani and Armenian societies regarding the peace process were also addressed.

The visit took place on November 21–22 within the framework of the “Bridge of Peace” initiative. 

By Khagan Isayev