Azerbaijani and Armenian experts in search of peace in the South Caucasus

Baku/28.06.22/Turan: The Joint Armenian-Azerbaijani Contact Group on Confidence Building Measures in Support of Lasting Peace in the South Caucasus (JOLIG), consisting of 11 Armenian and Azerbaijani independent experts and opinion makers, met in Kachreti, Georgia, June 27 and 28, 2022 to review its activities and agree on a strategy on how its work on confidence-building measures can contribute to efforts towards a lasting peace in the South Caucasus.

The participants discussed the efforts undertaken by the governments of the two countries with the support of international players aimed at creating the proper conditions for the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. They called on the leadership of both countries to remain focused and committed to this mission.

The participants recognized the serious danger posed by the ongoing international processes, and in particular the war in Ukraine, which has implications for all Eastern Partnership countries, as well as for European and global security. They hoped for a speedy end to the conflict and for the restoration of peace in Ukraine.

The group emphasized its conviction that confidence-building measures are necessary for the implementation of the current state of the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations and are indispensable, as the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan seek peaceful solutions to long-term disputes and contradictions between them.

The group assessed the reaction to its report “South Caucasus from War to Peace, 30 Measures to 2030”, published on April 2, 2022. She noted the overwhelmingly positive response to the report within the region and the international community, and especially as expressed at the advocacy meetings held in Baku on 25 April and in Yerevan on 30 May.

The Panel has decided to remain in its membership until December 31, 2025, and outlined the steps it will take over the next six-month period in support of the ongoing peace efforts in the region. The group decided to intensify its contacts with the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan and other local, regional and international stakeholders to determine the best ways in which it can contribute to ongoing peace efforts by helping build dialogue and trust and reduce misperceptions. She will continue to engage with the media and civil society networks to ensure that peace processes are better understood in Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The members of the Joint Armenian-Azerbaijani Contact Group are: Ahmad Alili, Mehman Aliyev, Stepan Grigoryan, Taron Hovhannissyan, Shahla Ismail, Samir Mammadov, Gevorg Melikyan, Johnny Melikyan, Benyamin Poghosyan, Ramazan Samedov and Anar Veliyev.

The participants of the meeting in Kachreti thanked LINKS Europe for its continued involvement and contribution to the process of confidence building in the South Caucasus, as well as the European Union for supporting their initiative. Representatives of LINKS Europe and the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus attended the meeting in Kachreti and actively contributed to the discussions.

For more information please contact office@links-europe.eu or alternatively

In Baku: Ahmad Alili (+994 50 2660728)

In Yerevan: Benyamin Poghosyan (+375 99 532870)

In the EU: Maximilian van Lange (+31 6 38540975)

More information about the Joint Armenian-Azerbaijani Contact Group is available at https://www.commonspace.eu/event/armenian-and-azerbaijani-expert-group-proposes-30-confidence-building-measures-support. –06В-