Armenian, Azerbaijani civil society advance ‘Peace Bridge’ initiative

YEREVAN, Armenia (MNTV) — Armenian civil society representatives who traveled to Azerbaijan on Nov. 21–22 to meet with their counterparts under the “Bridge of Peace” Initiative shared the outcomes of their visit Monday at a press conference in Yerevan, Armenpress reported.

The five-member Armenian delegation — Areg Kochinyan of the Security Policy Research Center, Boris Navasardyan of the Yerevan Press Club, Naira Sultanyan of the Democracy Development Foundation, and analysts Narek Minasyan and Samvel Meliksetyan — met in Baku with senior Azerbaijani experts and officials, including Center for Strategic Studies Director Farhad Mammadov, Topchubashov Center co-founder Rusif Huseynov, 1news editor-in-chief Kyamala Mammedova, NGO Forum chairman Ramil Iskandarli, and Fuad Abdullayev of the Center for the Analysis of International Relations.

The delegation also held a separate meeting with Hikmet Hajiyev, assistant to the president of Azerbaijan and head of the Presidential Administration’s foreign policy department.

According to Kochinyan, discussions focused on the dynamics of the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process, the role of civil society in fostering dialogue and opportunities for joint projects. He said the visit was conducted on the principle of reciprocity, noting that Azerbaijani civil society representatives recently visited Yerevan.

Kochinyan said Hajiyev conveyed several key messages for Armenian society: Azerbaijan considers the conflict resolved, claims no Armenian territory, and seeks a long-term peace. “After thirty-five years of hostility, distrust and resentment are natural,” Kochinyan said, adding that both sides must now work to create conditions for coexistence.

Prisoners, rhetoric and confidence-building measures
Sultanyan said the delegation raised the issue of Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan — a matter of deep concern in Armenia. She said no restrictions were placed on discussing the topic, though the group did not receive precise information on detainee numbers. Azerbaijan has publicly acknowledged holding 23 Armenians, including several former Nagorno-Karabakh leaders.

Minasyan said both sides are at an early and sensitive stage of dialogue. He noted that improving rhetoric, avoiding provocative statements, and correcting the distortion of place names were raised with Azerbaijani officials. “Such small results are important for moving forward and building trust,” he said.

Meliksetyan said regional transport issues — including reopening routes and Azerbaijan’s priority of maintaining a link with Nakhchivan — were also discussed. He said both sides recognize the need to proceed step by step on border delimitation, enclaves and other long-standing disputes.

‘Peace Bridge’ initiative formalized
Following the visit, Azerbaijani analyst Farhad Mammadov confirmed that the format will formally operate under the name “Peace Bridge.” He said both sides agreed to expand cooperation over the next six months, advance joint media and expert-level projects, and widen participation beyond the initial five-member groups.

Future meetings will continue in a strictly bilateral format, he said, with alternating visits. Both delegations agreed to maintain direct contacts and intensify collaborative activities supporting the peace agenda shaped after recent Washington-led talks.

The visit is part of a broader effort by civil society actors in both countries to complement the official peace process and help shift public attitudes after decades of conflict.