What Azerbaijani, Armenian representatives discussed in Baku?

A meeting between representatives of Azerbaijani and Armenian civil society was held in Baku under the “Bridge of Peace” initiative, focusing on the normalisation of bilateral relations, the peace process, and the current situation.

Ramil Isgandarli, Chairman of the Board of the National NGO Forum and a member of the “Bridge of Peace” initiative uniting civil society representatives from both countries, told Report that the sides discussed the role of civil society in renewing dialogue, how that role will be implemented in the near future, and upcoming joint activities.

He noted that the participants exchanged views on key issues of interest to both societies within the peace process and reached an agreement to expand and intensify cooperation in the media sphere.

“There will also be direct communication between experts working in various fields. Overall, the discussions focused on mechanisms for informing and engaging civil society, as well as organizing reciprocal visits under the ‘Bridge of Peace’ initiative. What made this meeting significant is that it was result-oriented and produced concrete agreements,” Isgandarli emphasised.

On November 21–22, a group of Armenian civil society representatives visited Azerbaijan under the same initiative. During the visit, Armenian participants — Areg Kochinyan, Boris Navasardyan, Naira Sultanyan, Narek Minasyan, and Samvel Meliksetyan — met with their Azerbaijani counterparts Farhad Mammadov, Rusif Huseynov, Kamala Mammadova, Ramil Isgadarli, and Fuad Abdullayev.

Members of the initiative also met with the Azerbaijani president's aide Hikmet Hajiyev to discuss steps taken by Azerbaijan and Armenia to strengthen the peace agenda following the Washington agreements.

By Khagan Isayev