As steps are taken towards establishing sustainable peace in the South Caucasus, the issue of more active participation in this process by both official representatives of the region's states and civil society institutions comes to the fore. In this regard, attention is increasing to the need for negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia to be supported not only at the political level but also at the public level. In the aforementioned context, the issue of NGOs operating in Azerbaijan visiting Armenia comes to the fore.
In a statement to **Modern.az**, **Zaur Ibrahimli**, Chairman of the Public Union of the Center for Social and Economic Research and a member of the Board of Directors of the National NGO Forum, noted that one of the main tasks in the context of peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia is to strengthen the environment of trust between the parties.
“From this perspective, preparing societies for peace and establishing communication among citizens is of particular importance. The creation of dialogue platforms among civil society institutions is also considered one of the crucial directions for strengthening the environment of trust and promoting inter-societal reconciliation.”
He also stated that the text of the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia has been prepared, and this document envisages the implementation of mechanisms for peacebuilding.
“One of these mechanisms could be cooperation among civil society institutions. This cooperation can include youth, women, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) active in the field of peacebuilding. Their joint discussions, common steps, and initiatives to overcome various obstacles can make a significant contribution to the peace process. Such initiatives are widely encountered in international practice.”
Our interviewee also noted that Azerbaijan has always demonstrated its readiness for peace during the negotiations:
“Mr. President Ilham Aliyev also stated that all obstacles related to cargo transit to Armenia have been removed. This fact once again confirms that Azerbaijan is committed to the peace agenda and demonstrates a consistent and principled position in this process. Furthermore, Azerbaijan adopts the same approach in other areas as well.”
According to him, the main responsibility here lies with the Armenian side:
“It should not be forgotten that 35 years ago, Azerbaijani territories were occupied by Armenia. At the current stage, to promote the principles of reconciliation and coexistence among people, Armenian civil society must adopt a more active and proactive stance. The responsibility in this direction primarily falls on them. Naturally, the Azerbaijani side can also show its support in this process.”
Z. Ibrahimli also drew attention to the issue of Azerbaijani NGO representatives visiting Armenia:
“Regarding the issue of Azerbaijani NGO representatives visiting Armenia, if NGOs are to be involved in peace and confidence-building measures, reciprocal visits are possible. However, these visits must serve a specific subject and purpose. Most importantly, these visits should not further deepen existing disagreements; on the contrary, they should serve peace and mutual understanding. Furthermore, the planning of visits must be carried out seriously in advance and implemented in directions that can yield practical results,” he concluded.
