In 2016 Azerbaijan Tried to Devaluate Public Diplomacy

• 12.30.2016, 15:59
• Greta Avetisyan
•  Region,  "Insight" Analytical Center ,  World,  NKR,  Analytics

Karabakh conflict and its settlement process in 2016 was also full of various developments. During the last months of the year the essence and the real meaning of public diplomacy or Track 2 (it is a means for building bridges of dialogue and trust between the sides, which, complementing Track 1 (interstate dialogue) should contribute to recording success in the negotiations) started to be discussed.

A reason for such discussions became the creation of a platform "For reaching peace between Armenians and Azerbaijanis" as if for having a positive impact on the Karabakh conflict settlement process. Azerbaijan’s this initiative and its attempts to develop it were criticized by the Armenian sides. And not without ground.

From the people engaged in the creation of the platform and from the declared goals it is already clear that this initiative is just an imitation of public diplomacy and it distortes and discredites the real essence of Track 2.

It is clear that such people like Vahan Martirosyan, Vahe Avetyan, Susan Jaghinyan, who have handed themselves over the Azerbaijani authorities and have become the tools of Azerbaijan’s propaganda machine, cannot represent the Armenian sides or carry out any peace-building activities. It is also obvious that they will not succeed in influencing a large segment of society, as there is an expressed negative attitude towards them. Therefore, it will be naïve to think that through such people it will be possible to create an atmosphere of trust and have a positive impact on the negotiation process.

Moreover, this platform reminds rather an initiative by the Azerbaijani authorities – a new policy adopted towards the Armenian sides, than a one by civil society.

With such a policy Azerbaijan wants to solve several problems. First, it tries to show itself as a constructive country, which works in the direction of creating an atmosphere of trust between Armenians and Azerbaijanis. With the engagement of several Armenians it also tries to mislead the international community, showing as if Armenians agree with the points included in the declaration of the platform (among the unacceptable points for the Armenian sides, the declaration mentions about autonomy of Karabakh in Azerbaijan). And the last, if previously people in Azerbaijan were being arrested for carrying out peace-building projects and having links with Armenians, and Azerbaijan was being accused of this, now it can declare itself a "democratic" country. A scope of Armenians is created, with whom it is allowed to cooperate.

To conclude, it should be mentioned that this new policy of Azerbaijan is full of various dangers. It devaluates public diplomacy and hinders further cooperation on the similar format creating a danger that those cooperating with Armenians in other formats would be perceived as traitors and would be persecuted. In this regard the Armenian sides at different levels, should carry out targeted and more active actions, also inviting the attention of the international organizations on those dangers.