Armenian civil delegation participates in dialogue initiative in Azerbaijan

(Horizon Media) – An Armenian civil society delegation has arrived in Azerbaijan to participate in another round of discussions under the “Bridge of Peace” initiative, held from April 10 to 12.

The format, which brings together representatives from Armenian and Azerbaijani civil society, is presented as a mechanism to foster dialogue and encourage direct contact between the two sides. This latest meeting comes within the framework of an agreed peace agenda linked to the August 8, 2025, trilateral summit in Washington involving the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the United States.

According to Azerbaijani reports, members of the Armenian delegation entered Azerbaijan via a land crossing, passing through a section of the border that has been officially delimited and demarcated, and completing standard passport and customs procedures, a detail highlighted in the broader narrative surrounding normalization efforts.

The discussions are expected to address the current stage of the peace process, activities carried out under the “Bridge of Peace” initiative in both countries, and broader regional developments. Separate sessions are also planned to promote peace at the societal level and strengthen trust ahead of potential next phases of the process, objectives that have been repeatedly emphasized in similar formats in recent months.

The Armenian delegation includes Areg Kochinyan, coordinator and President of the Armenian Council; Boris Navasardyan, President of the Yerevan Press Club; Naira Sultanyan, Director of the Democracy Development Foundation; Narek Minasyan and Edgar Vardanyan, associate experts of the Armenian Council; Samvel Meliksetyan and Robert Gevondyan, experts of the Armenian Council; Stepan Grigoryan, Chairman of the Analytical Center on Globalization and Regional Cooperation; Lusine Kharatyan, writer and cultural anthropologist; Nelli Minasyan, historian and Turkologist; Davit Stepanyan, political commentator; Ruben Babayan, Artistic Director of the Yerevan Puppet Theatre; Eleonora Sargsyan, peace and gender expert; Naira Martikyan, Director of JAMnews Armenia; Vazgen Karapetyan, Deputy Director of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation; Tatev Danielyan, Chief Editor of political programs at Public Television of Armenia; Armen Petrosyan, regional policy expert; Alen Amirkhanyan, Director of the Acopian Center for the Environment at AUA; and journalist Nelli Rafayelyan, along with a Public Television camera operator.

On the Azerbaijani side, participants include Farhad Mammadov, Director of the South Caucasus Research Center; Rusif Huseynov, Director of the Topchubashov Center; Ramil Iskenderli, Chairman of the National NGO Forum; Kyamalya Mammadova, Editor-in-chief of First News Media; Fuad Abdullayev of the Center for Analysis of International Relations; Dilyara Efendiyeva of the Azerbaijan Women’s Rights Society; Kenul Badalova of the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communications; Zaur Shiriyev of Carnegie’s Russia and Eurasia Center; transport expert Rauf Aghamirzayev; Gulbeniz Ganbarova of the Rural Women Association; Nazrin Aliyeva of the Human Rights Support Center; CBC TV commentator Sanan Rzayev; Emin Aliyev of TREND News Agency; Murad Muradov of the Topchubashov Center; Ayten Gahraman of the Baku International Multiculturalism Center; analyst Ilyas Huseynov; NGO leader Gulshan Akhundova; Orkhan Babayev of the South Caucasus Research Center; AnewZ presenter Orkhan Amashov; and Yegyana Hajiyeva of the Press Council.

While the initiative is framed as a platform for dialogue at the societal level, it unfolds in parallel with ongoing official negotiations and continues to reflect a carefully structured engagement format, with agendas and participation aligned to a broader, pre-defined peace framework.