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Project director of International Alert: â€œMutual confidence in Azerbaijani and Armenian societies requires much workâ€

13 June 2009 10:30 (UTC +04:00)

-How long has your organization been dealing with the conflicts in the Caucasus?

-We have been working in the Caucasus since 1993. Generally we are operating in 25 regions of the world. There had been conflicts in these regions before and they are going on at present.

-What projects has the International Alert implemented in the Caucasus, particularly in Nagorno Karabakh?

-A consortium consisting of several international organizations was established in 2003. The consortium supports peaceful settlement of the conflicts, including Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The activities are carried out in three directions: political dialogue, dialogue on the level of mass media and civil society. Being International Alert we are dealing with the dialogue on the level of civil society and organize meetings of the victims of conflicts, people, who lost their family members, and people living on the line of contact. We organized a meeting of the youth last year.

-Were these meetings held in Azerbaijan and Armenia, or in any other neutral area?

-The meetings were held in neutral areas. Unfortunately, we can not organize such meetings in the region. We are interested in it and I hope that it will be possible in future. If we do not organize these meetings in the region, they will not have resonance. Armenian-Azerbaijani forum is the place for dialogue of civil society leaders, experts, persons having certain influence in the society. Such forums were held in Vienna, Brussels and Istanbul. The next â€“ fourth forum will be held in Moscow. The fifth meeting is scheduled for January next year, but its place has not been determined yet.

-You said the consortium worked in three fields. Are these fields interrelated and who deals with dialogue?

-Of course all fields are interrelated. We all do some work in the political field. Two other partners in the consortium are Conciliation Resources and Links.

-Initial discussions have started in Baku concerning Armenian-Azerbaijani forum that will be held in Moscow in July. What can you say about it?

- There is a wish to make the meeting a positive impulse for the society. Influential persons also said this. The participants of the forum will be famous persons and I consider that this generation consists of the persons who had some links with one another in the past.
- OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs also attended the forum last time. Will they be present at the forum this time?

- Itâ€™s not known yet. It will depend on the agenda, participants and goals. If the co-chairsâ€™ participation becomes important we well be pleased to request them to partake. We should work out the agenda, discuss this issue with the participants and make decision afterwards. The co-chairs are very likely ready for this kind of cooperation.

- What will be the main theme of the forum?

- The forum will be devoted to the role of culture and intellectuals in the establishment of mutual confidence. Different sessions will be organized in the subject. The theme of the session will be determines in 2-3 weeks. The consultations will also be conducted in Armenia.

- How many times have you been to Azerbaijan?

I was in Azerbaijan 10 years ago for the first time. But I was there a week before last time. I often visit Azerbaijan.

- It would be interesting to know your opinions about the conflict as a person who often visits and knows the region. Is the political solution of the conflict possible in the nearest future? Are the communities of both countries ready to find a common point of intersection?

- Itâ€™s difficult for me to say something from the political point of view. Because only the persons involved in the negotiations process may give prognosis. After the St. Petersburg meeting, Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers stated that despite serious steps had not been taken forward, certain progresses had been achieved. I hope it so, and we are ready to do all in this direction. Much has to be done for the progresses at the level of communities.

- So, you visited the region 10 years ago. Have there been any changes at the level of communities?

- If there are any changes, I donâ€™t see those changes to be positive for the solution to the conflict. I am very concerned of the fact that the position of young generation at ages of 15-20 is very different. The number of old generation once lived together is getting decreased. But the young generation is growing in an aggressive mood. At the same time, the positive fact is that the importance of joint meetings is understood in the communities of Azerbaijan and Armenia.