“As Chair of the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum and a member of the ‘Peace Bridge’ initiative, I believe that such meetings are important mechanisms that complement official diplomatic processes and strengthen societies’ psychological, social, and institutional readiness for peace,” Ramil Iskandarli, Chair of the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum and member of the “Peace Bridge” initiative, said in an interview with APA.
Crossing the delimited border described as a tangible sign of confidence-building
He noted that peace is not ensured solely through political documents; for it to be sustainable, societies themselves must internally support the process:
“It should be particularly emphasized that the entry of the Azerbaijani delegation into Armenian territory via the delimited land border was an important symbolic and practical step in terms of confidence-building. This serves as a significant indicator that the peace process has moved not only to a theoretical stage but also to a practical phase.
“The discussions held during the meeting once again confirmed that civil society plays the role of an active actor in the peace process. Strengthening the mechanisms of public diplomacy is an important component of regional stability.”
Peace creates real opportunities for improving the welfare of the peoples of the region
Ramil Iskandarli emphasized that for the success of the peace process, it is essential to deliver its concrete social and economic dividends to society:
“Peace creates real opportunities for new economic cooperation, the opening of regional communication routes, the improvement of the investment climate, and the enhancement of the welfare of the peoples of the region. Civil society plays a key role in explaining these dividends to the public and in shaping public support.
The Tsaghkadzor meeting once again demonstrated that mutual dialogue, direct communication, and sustained contacts are vital for strengthening the social foundations of the peace process. The continuation of this format can play a significant role in fostering long-term stability and an atmosphere of mutual trust in the region.”
The Chairman of the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum stated that civil society should act as a bridge in this process, performing a coordinating function between public opinion and official diplomatic efforts:
“Within the framework of the meeting program, the Azerbaijani delegation also met with Armenian officials, including Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan and Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan, to exchange views on the contributions of civil society initiatives to the peace agenda and the future prospects of public diplomacy.”
On February 13–14, 2026, a bilateral meeting (“Peace Bridge” format) was held in the city of Tsaghkadzor, Republic of Armenia, with the participation of representatives of Azerbaijani and Armenian civil society. The event was organized within the framework of the “Peace Bridge” initiative, and the discussions were dedicated to civil society dialogue.
The Azerbaijani delegation participated in the event with a broad composition of 19 members. The delegation included representatives of civil society institutions, non-governmental organizations, media, and experts.
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