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Armenian experts arrive in Baku
On 10 April, 19 representatives of Armenian civil society arrived in Azerbaijan. Together with 20 Azerbaijani experts, they will take part in a bilateral round table on 10–12 April, organised as part of the “Bridge of Peace” initiative.
This is the fourth meeting between civil society representatives from the two countries. Armenian experts have travelled to Azerbaijan for the second time.
Unlike the visit organised in November 2025, they arrived by land this time, not by air. They crossed the demarcated Tavush–Kazakh section of the border and completed border and passport control procedures there.
Azerbaijani experts travelled to Armenia via the same route in February this year. Observers described it as a “symbolic step”.
The initiative’s work on the Armenian side is coordinated by the analytical centre Armenian Council. Its president, Areg Kochinyan, has repeatedly said that meetings held in Armenia and Azerbaijan should be seen as “attempts to lift the iron curtain”.
Armenian experts involved in the “Bridge of Peace” project view the initiative as an additional platform for direct dialogue.
They believe regular contacts can make a significant contribution to building mutual trust, expanding professional cooperation and gradually normalising Armenian-Azerbaijani relations.
Below is the information available so far.
- ‘We won’t become best friends, but Azerbaijanis’ perception will change’ – Armenian political analyst
- Armenian and Azerbaijani NGOs meet in Yerevan: what to expect
- Azerbaijani and Armenian NGOs in Yerevan: Dialogue for peace or a symbolic gesture? Views from Baku
What is known about the meeting’s agenda?
According to Armenian Council, dialogue between civil society representatives from Armenia and Azerbaijan follows the peace agenda adopted at the Washington summit on 8 August 2025.
The centre says the two-day round tables will cover the following issues:
- the current state of the peace process,
- actions carried out by participants of the “Bridge of Peace” initiative in their countries and their results,
- the situation in the region.
“Separate sessions will focus on efforts to promote peace within societies and to increase trust at the next stages of the peace process,” the centre said.
The analytical centre also stressed that the “Bridge of Peace” initiative continues to foster dialogue and direct interaction between civil society representatives from the two countries.
Context
The first meeting between civil society representatives from Armenia and Azerbaijan took place on 21–22 October 2025 in Yerevan.
A month later, on 21–22 November, Armenian experts travelled to Baku. At that time, Armenia’s government allocated about 17.5 million drams (around $20,000) to organise charter flights between Yerevan and Baku.
After the second meeting, the sides agreed to continue working contacts and mutual visits. The initiative then received the name “Bridge of Peace”.
Initially, five experts from each country took part in the initiative. In 2026, organisers expanded the number of participants.
On 13–14 February 2026, 20 experts from the Armenian side and 19 from the Azerbaijani side took part in the third conference of the “Bridge of Peace” initiative. The event took place in the town of Tsaghkadzor in Armenia’s Kotayk region.
From that point, Naira Martikyan, editor and head of JAMnews’ Armenian office, also joined the initiative. She is currently in Azerbaijan as well.
The agenda for civil society representatives from the two countries covers a wide range of issues related to the current stage and development of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. These include the signing of a peace agreement and the opening of communications.
As part of the initiative, experts also hold meetings with senior officials.
During the trip to Baku in autumn 2025, Armenian experts met Hikmet Hajiyev, head of the foreign policy department of Azerbaijan’s presidential administration.
Azerbaijani experts, during their visit to Armenia, met Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan and Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan.
Armenian experts arrive in Baku