Meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani Civil Society Representatives Underway in Georgia

The head of the Turan news agency, Mehman Aliyev, announced yesterday that the first meetings of representatives from the civil societies of Armenia and Azerbaijan will take place in Tbilisi under the title "How Peace and Trust Can Contribute to Peace in the South Caucasus". This round table is organized with the support of the European Union.

The publication Hakkin Az noted that the names of the NGOs participating from the Armenian side are unknown. In the second part of the meeting, representatives from Georgia will also join the discussions. The publication interviewed Georgian expert Gela Vasadze, who confirmed that such a meeting is currently taking place in one of the regions of Georgia.

"I am aware and can confirm that such a meeting is happening at this time, but I cannot specify who is there from either side," said Gela Vasadze.

When asked about the agenda of the meeting, he said, "Naturally, the topic is Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, conflict resolution, what can be done, etc. I believe this will soon become known; I don't think they will hide it." Vasadze also added that Georgia continues to pursue its mediation efforts for resolving these relations, which, according to him, stem from Georgia's national security interests.

The president of the Yerevan Press Club and former coordinator of the EU Civil Society Forum in Armenia, Boris Navasarardyan, also announced that similar discussions are currently taking place: "I know that discussions are taking place in several directions; which specific one do you have in mind? Because, according to the agenda you mentioned, there are different discussions ongoing. Mainly, there are trilateral discussions involving Georgians, but there can also be bilateral ones. I am not aware of all of them, but I do know about some, and some I do not."

Navasarardyan noted that he had participated in some discussions, but they were not in-person, but rather online meetings. When asked whether these online discussions ended in consensus, he said, "Not yet. For now, it's a discussion about agendas—what, how should be discussed, what approaches the parties have, but there can be no talk of any agreements." This means discussions about discussions regarding what concerns the Armenian and Azerbaijani NGOs.

Navasarardyan further added that these meetings often include not so much NGOs as experts who are well aware of the conflict, its history, and "speak not from illusions but are ready to practically discuss real challenges and ways to overcome them." According to Navasarardyan, the upcoming meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani NGOs in Tbilisi is scheduled for early October.

When asked if he would accept an invitation to participate, he said he could not say at this time: "If there are people I mentioned who are ready to discuss real challenges without illusions, it makes sense to talk to them. But if both sides start propaganda speeches, it is pointless to spend time on such events."

Meanwhile, several NGO representatives and individual experts who could potentially participate in such a round table have denied not only the existence of an invitation but have also stated that they are unaware that such meetings are taking place. The chief editor of Aliq.ge and a former advisor to Nikol Pashinyan on foreign policy, Arsen Kharatyan, stated, "I have absolutely no idea what this is; I am in the US and hearing about such a meeting for the first time."

Expert on resolving the Artsakh conflict and journalist Tatul Hakobyan also mentioned, "I am currently in Meghri and hearing about it from you." The president of the