A rare and symbolic roundtable between representatives of the Azerbaijani and Armenian expert and civil society communities took place in Yerevan this week – the first of its kind held in a fully bilateral format without the mediation of any third country or international organization.
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The meeting, organized jointly by experts and NGOs from both sides and supported by official structures, gathered prominent participants including Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan and leading Azerbaijani analyst Farhad Mammadov, head of the Center for South Caucasus Studies.
“If we look at the processes taking place since the signing of the Washington Declaration, it’s clear that a new phase has begun,” Mammadov told Minval Politika. “As President Ilham Aliyev emphasized, both sides have de facto taken the path toward peace. In recent months, we’ve seen consistent steps from both governments to move this process forward – and it will continue.”
Civil Diplomacy in Action
According to Mammadov, the event marks an important milestone: for the first time in decades, Azerbaijani civil representatives traveled to Yerevan on a special Azerbaijan Airlines flight – the first such flight in 30 years.
“We could see the surprise on the faces of Yerevan airport staff,” he said. “They didn’t even know an Azerbaijani plane would land – it was a special flight. That moment itself showed how far the peace process has come, though security concerns remain.”
The roundtable discussions covered a broad range of topics, including political dialogue, humanitarian cooperation, and confidence-building measures. Both sides agreed that direct contact between experts, media representatives, and NGOs is essential to sustaining peace.
“Governments have established dialogue channels at the level of leaders, ministries, and deputy prime ministers,” Mammadov noted. “Now it’s time for civil society to join that process. Our discussions took place in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust.”
“A Step That Could Reshape the Region”
The political analyst emphasized that both governments support such people-to-people diplomacy, which can reinforce official negotiations and help translate peace commitments into practical outcomes.
Mammadov confirmed that participants also met with Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan, who underscored the importance of continued contact between the two societies.
“We will try to ensure these meetings continue. Civil society can give real momentum to the peace process and help implement the plans and ideas already on the table,” Mammadov said.
He added that despite opposition from radical groups within both countries and abroad, the success of such direct contacts shows that the peace agenda is becoming irreversible.
“There are always forces opposed to peace – they resist precisely this bilateral format,” he said. “But the more steps we take in the right direction, the more artificial barriers will fall.”
Symbolism and Significance
The Yerevan visit comes amid growing optimism following the Washington Declaration and President Aliyev’s decision to lift restrictions on transit of goods to Armenia through Azerbaijani territory – a move seen as a goodwill gesture.
According to Mammadov, these steps signal that Baku and Yerevan are both committed to moving beyond conflict. “Azerbaijan achieved its goals in the 44-day Patriotic War. Armenia’s current leadership recognizes this reality and supports the peace agenda promoted by Baku,” he said.
For both sides, the Yerevan roundtable was more than a symbolic act – it was a test of mutual trust, a rehearsal of coexistence, and perhaps, the first small step toward a lasting peace in the South Caucasus.
