Azerbaijan, Armenia Hold Historic Peace Talks in Yerevan
A historic zoom meeting took place in Yerevan, Armenia, on October 21-22, 2021. For the first time in over three decades, representatives from Azerbaijani and Armenian NGOs gathered to discuss peace and reconciliation in the azerbaijan-armenia conflict. The event was aimed at rebuilding trust between the peoples and exploring the role of civil society in the peace process.
The zoom meeting, held in the Armenian capital, brought together notable figures from both countries. From Armenia, participants included Areg Kochinyan, Boris Navasardyan, Naira Sultanyan, Narek Minasyan, and Samvel Meliksetyan. Representing Azerbaijan were Farhad Mammadov, Rusif Huseynov, Ramil Iskenderli, Kamala Mammadova, and Dilara Efendiyeva.
Boris Navasardyan, an Armenian participant, described the initiative as an effort to restore informal communication channels beyond official diplomacy. Rusif Huseynov, from Azerbaijan, echoed this sentiment, stating that the aim was to develop a mechanism for public support of the peace process and carry out joint projects.
The agenda covered key issues such as signing a final peace agreement, border delimitation, opening transport communications, and humanitarian concerns. Arzu Abdullayeva, an Azerbaijani participant, emphasized the importance of a balanced composition of participants and a focus on reconciliation-oriented topics for the zoom meeting's effectiveness.
However, not all attendees were optimistic. Arif Yunus, another Azerbaijani participant, viewed the meeting as an example of 'controlled people's diplomacy', suggesting that independent voices were not genuinely involved. This view is supported by the lack of information about who reported the meeting, despite searches.
The unique zoom meeting in Yerevan marked a significant step in the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Despite differing views on the meeting's nature, participants agreed on the need for dialogue and cooperation. The next steps in the peace process remain uncertain, but the zoom meeting has shown that civil society engagement can play a crucial role in rebuilding relations.
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