Peace Bridge Initiative Advances Dialogue Between Armenia and Azerbaijan

The city of Gabala hosted a significant bilateral roundtable under the “Peace Bridge” Initiative, bringing together civil society representatives from Azerbaijan and Armenia.

A meeting held in Gabala on April 11 brought together representatives from Armenia and Azerbaijan within the framework of the “Peace Bridge” Initiative, highlighting efforts to promote civil society dialogue (քաղաքացիական հասարակության երկխոսություն) [kaghakatsiakan hasarakutyan yerkhosutyun] and strengthen cross-border engagement (սահմանային փոխգործակցություն) [sahmanayin pokhgortsaktsutyun]. The discussions took place over several days and involved experts, media representatives, and institutional actors from both sides.

According to statements delivered during the briefing, participants from Armenia crossed a formally delimited border section (սահմանազատված հատված) [sahmanazatvats hatvats] and underwent standard border control procedures (սահմանային հսկողություն) [sahmanayin hskoghutyun]. This step was described as a symbolic demonstration of progress, reflecting how close both sides are to advancing a mutually discussed peace agenda.

"The goal of the 'Peace Bridge' Initiative is contacts between representatives of civil society, experts, and the media. The first goal is to prepare societies in our countries for peace. After more than 30 years of conflict, this is important. It's also a platform where experts can bring new ideas and new issues that have not yet been discussed in government negotiations, to test the parties' reactions and approaches to these issues. And sometimes it turns out that these issues also arise in official negotiations. The very fact that the fourth meeting of the 'Peace Bridge' Initiative is taking place today is already an important result. When we first began, during the first visit, and then the second, there were many doubts about the possibility of continuation, the possibility of institutionalizing this initiative. And now "This is our fourth meeting, and we don't intend to stop," he said."

The initiative is structured as a platform for generating policy ideas (քաղաքական առաջարկներ) [kaghakakan arajarkner] and introducing issues not yet included in official talks. Through this format, participants aim to test reactions and contribute indirectly to official negotiations (պաշտոնական բանակցություններ) [pashtonakan banakcutyunner], demonstrating the interaction between informal and formal diplomatic channels.

Participants confirmed that discussions are focused on peace process development (խաղաղության գործընթաց) [khaghaghutyan gorcentsac] and the results of activities carried out in their respective countries. The agenda also includes evaluation of regional conditions and efforts to strengthen mutual understanding (փոխադարձ ըմբռնում) [pokhadrardz ymbrrnum] between societies affected by decades of conflict.

The framework of the meetings is connected to the broader bilateral peace agenda (երկկողմ խաղաղության օրակարգ) [erkkoghm khaghaghutyan orakarg] endorsed during a trilateral summit held in Washington on August 8, 2025. This linkage places the initiative within a wider diplomatic context, where civil society interaction complements state-level agreements.

Another component of the program involves sessions dedicated to trust-building measures (վստահության կառուցում) [vstahutyan karucum] and strengthening cooperation at the societal level. These discussions aim to address long-term challenges in rebuilding communication channels and facilitating sustained engagement between communities.

Participants also agreed to organise joint activities that would produce collaborative outcomes (համատեղ արդյունքներ) [hamategh ardyunqner] reflecting their cooperation. This step indicates an intention to move beyond dialogue toward practical initiatives that demonstrate the tangible impact of continued interaction.

The initiative has now reached its fourth meeting, marking a transition from uncertainty about its continuation to a more stable and ongoing format. This evolution reflects a gradual process of institutionalization (ինստիտուցիոնալացում) [institutsionalatsum] and growing confidence in the initiative’s sustainability.

The discussions, held from April 10 to April 12, continue to focus on enhancing communication between civil society actors. The presence of multiple experts and representatives illustrates the breadth of multilateral engagement (բազմակողմ ներգրավվածություն) [bazmakoghm nergravvatsutyun] involved in the process.

Overall, the “Peace Bridge” Initiative represents an effort to bridge gaps through dialogue, direct interaction, and shared platforms, contributing incrementally to normalization between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Key Armenian Vocabulary

քաղաքացիական հասարակության երկխոսություն [kaghakatsiakan hasarakutyan yerkhosutyun] civil society dialogue
սահմանային փոխգործակցություն [sahmanayin pokhgortsaktsutyun] cross-border engagement
սահմանազատված հատված [sahmanazatvats hatvats] delimited border section
սահմանային հսկողություն [sahmanayin hskoghutyun] border control procedures
քաղաքական առաջարկներ [kaghakakan arajarkner] policy ideas
պաշտոնական բանակցություններ [pashtonakan banakcutyunner] official negotiations
խաղաղության գործընթաց [khaghaghutyan gorcentsac] peace process development
փոխադարձ ըմբռնում [pokhadrardz ymbrrnum] mutual understanding
երկկողմ խաղաղության օրակարգ [erkkoghm khaghaghutyan orakarg] bilateral peace agenda
վստահության կառուցում [vstahutyan karucum] trust-building measures
համատեղ արդյունքներ [hamategh ardyunqner] collaborative outcomes
ինստիտուցիոնալացում [institutsionalatsum] institutionalization
բազմակողմ ներգրավվածություն [bazmakoghm nergravvatsutyun] multilateral engagement