GABALA, Azerbaijan, April 11. A meeting was
held with Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan
and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the
Presidential Administration, within the framework of the “Peace
Bridge” initiative during a bilateral roundtable involving
representatives of Azerbaijani and Armenian civil
societies,Trend’s
special correspondent reports.
Hajiyev exchanged views with participants and answered questions
from the Armenian delegation. During the meeting, Azerbaijan’s
commitment to the peace agenda was reaffirmed, including adherence
to the spirit of the Washington summit and the agreed bilateral
peace framework between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
It was noted that efforts are underway to establish trade
relations between the two countries and to ensure transit of goods
from Azerbaijan to Armenia. The implementation of the Trump Route
for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project was also
highlighted, with expectations that it will transform the regional
atmosphere and reshape the broader transport landscape.
Hajiyev emphasized that just as peace negotiations between
Azerbaijan and Armenia are bilateral in nature, exchanges and
confidence-building measures between civil societies should also
maintain a bilateral format. He further stressed that ensuring
peace and security in the South Caucasus is especially important
amid ongoing global instability and conflicts.
The discussions, held from April 10 through 12, focus on
promoting dialogue and direct engagement between civil society
actors from both countries. The meeting is set to continue through
April 12.
The “Peace Bridge” Initiative continues to foster dialogue and
direct engagement between civil society representatives from
Azerbaijan and Armenia. On this occasion, the Armenian delegation
arrived in Azerbaijan via the land border, crossing through a
formally delimited and demarcated section and undergoing all
relevant border and passport control procedures.
The dialogue between civil society representatives is taking
place within the framework of the agreed bilateral peace agenda
endorsed at the trilateral summit of the leaders of Azerbaijan,
Armenia, and the United States held in Washington, D.C. on 8 August
2025.
The meeting agenda includes discussions on the current state of
the peace process; the activities undertaken by participants in the
“Peace Bridge” Initiative in their respective countries and the
results of those efforts; as well as the situation in the
region.
Separate sessions will also be devoted to efforts to advance
peace at the societal level and to increase trust during the next
stages of the peace process.
The Azerbaijani delegation comprises Emin Aliyev, the
editor-in-chief of Trend News Agency.
Participants from Azerbaijan:
1. Farhad Mammadov – Director of the Center for Studies of the
South Caucasus; Coordinator
2. Rusif Huseynov – Director of the Topchubashov Center
3. Ramil Isgandarli – Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan
National NGO Forum
4. Kamala Mammadova – Editor-in-Chief, First News Media
(1news.az)
5. Fuad Abdullayev – Leading Adviser at the Center of Analysis
of International Relations
6. Dilara Afandiyeva – Head of the Women’s Peace and Security
Center at the Azerbaijan Women’s Rights Protection Society
7. Konul Badalova – Research Fellow at the Center for Analysis
of Economic Reforms and Communication
8. Zaur Shiriyev – Nonresident Scholar at the Carnegie Russia
Eurasia Center
9. Rauf Aghamirzayev – Transport Expert and Member of the Public
Council under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport
10. Gulbaniz Ganbarova – Chairperson of the Azerbaijan Rural
Women’s Association Public Union
11. Nazrin Aliyeva – Chairperson of the “Human Rights Support
Center” Public Association
12. Sanan Rzayev – Presenter, CBC Television Emin Aliyev –
Editor-in-Chief, Trend News Agency
13. Murad Muradov – Deputy Director of the Topchubashov
Center
14. Aytan Gahraman – Adviser at the Baku International
Multiculturalism Center
15. Ilyas Huseynov – Political Analyst
16. Gulshan Akhundova – Chairperson of the “Women, Development,
Future” Public Union
17. Orkhan Babayev – Staff Member of the Center for Studies of
the South Caucasus
18. Orkhan Amashov – Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Presenter,
AnewZ
19. Yegana Hajiyeva – Member of the Board of the Press
Council
Participants from Armenia:
1. Areg Kochinyan – President of the Armenian Council;
Coordinator
2. Boris Navasardyan – Honorary President of the Yerevan Press
Club
3. Naira Sultanyan – Director of the Democracy Development
Foundation
4.Narek Minasyan – Associate Expert at the Armenian Council
5. Samvel Meliksetyan – Expert at the Armenian Council
6. Stepan Grigoryan – Chairman of the Board, Analytical Center
on Globalization and Regional Cooperation
7. Edgar Vardanyan – Associate Expert at the Armenian
Council
8. Robert Ghevondyan – Expert at the Armenian Council
9. Lusine Kharatyan – Writer and Cultural Anthropologist
10. Nelli Minasyan – PhD in History, Associate Professor, and
Turkologist
11. Davit Stepanyan – Political Commentator at 1in.am; Expert at
the Armenian Institute of International Security and Relations
12. Ruben Babayan – Artistic Director of the Yerevan Puppet
Theater
13. Eleonora Sargsyan – Peace and Gender Expert; Youth
Worker
14. Naira Martikyan – Editor and Country Director of JAMnews
(Armenia)
15. Vazgen Karapetyan – Associate Director, Eurasia Partnership
Foundation
16. Tatev Danielyan – Editor-in-Chief of Political Programs and
Host at Public Television of Armenia
17. Armen Petrosyan – Regional Policy Expert at the Orbeli
Center
18. Alen Amirkhanyan – Director of the AUA Acopian Center for
the Environment
19. Nelli Rafayelyan – Journalist at the Media Initiative
Center
20. Operator, Public Television of Armenia
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