Pundit: Bridge of Peace enables civil society in Baku, Yerevan to communicate directly

The “Bridge of Peace” initiative is enabling representatives of civil society from Azerbaijan and Armenia to communicate directly without intermediaries, the curator of the initiative has said.

Speaking at a press conference in Gabala following a meeting between delegations from both countries, Farhad Mammadov, curator of the initiative and director of the Centre for South Caucasus Studies, said the platform allows for open engagement between participants outside formal state channels, local media reports.

He noted that this was the fourth such meeting held under the “Bridge of Peace” framework, underlining the continuity of the dialogue process.

According to Mammadov, the initiative is designed to encourage sustained contact between civil society representatives, including experts and media professionals, in order to build trust and explore new avenues for engagement in the post-conflict environment.

Armenian coordinator of the initiative and president of the Armenian Council, Areg Kochinyan, also addressed the press conference, saying that participants would continue their efforts to strengthen peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

He said the primary aim of the initiative is to facilitate meetings and exchanges among civil society actors, experts and journalists, allowing for a broader discussion beyond official negotiations.

“This platform is about preparing our societies for peace after more than 30 years of conflict. It is very important. It is a space where experts can bring new ideas, discuss issues that have not yet been addressed in state-level negotiations, and assess the approaches of both sides,” Kochinyan said.

He added that the fact the fourth meeting of the “Bridge of Peace” initiative is taking place is in itself a significant achievement, reflecting continuity and sustained engagement between the two societies.

The initiative is seen by participants as a complementary track to official diplomatic efforts, focusing on dialogue at the societal level and confidence-building measures between the two countries.

By Aghakazim Guliyev