Armenian Sides Have Always Attached Importance to the Establishment and Strengthening of Dialogue Between Armenians and Azerbaijanis

• 02.27.2017, 11:24
• Greta Avetisyan
•  Region,  "Insight" Analytical Center ,  World,  NKR,  Analytics

The NGO Academy

Dialogue between societies, creation of the atmosphere of confidence has always been regarded to be the most important components for conflict resolution. In this regard Karabakh conflict is not an exception, but one of the sides – Azerbaijan, public diplomacy or Track 2 (contacts between civil societies) has always seen as a challenge, which is a "blow" to the hate rhetoric of the official Baku.

Contacts among societies breaks and would have broken the myth created among the Azerbaijani society, showing where the real obstacles for the settlement of the conflict are and which side is really a destructive one.

The first big wave of hindering the contacts among societies Azerbaijani authorities started still several years ago, when representatives of CSOs, activists were arrested for carrying out peace building activities and having links with Armenians.

Changes in the laws on NGOs and on getting grants, which aims at increasing the level of state control on NGOs and their activities, became the second big obstacle for contacts between societies. It is enough to mention that for giving a grant to an NGO, the foreign donor should sign an agreement with the Azerbaijani government, as well as open its representation in Azerbaijan, while for giving the grant every time it should get a conclusion from the Ministry of Finance about the feasibility of the implementation of the project.

The creation of the platform "For reaching peace between Armenians and Azerbaijanis" as if for having a positive impact on the Karabakh conflict settlement process became the logical continuation of the control over NGOs, the limitation of the contacts with the world and narrowing of the circle of any kind of contacts with Armenians. Nevertheless, 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 distorts and discredits the real essence of Track 2.  Moreover, it devalues 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.

Thus the Azerbaijani side comes up with such a destructive approach, hindering dialogue between the societies, while both the international community and the Armenian sides voice that without confidence among the societies it is impossible to talk about the final settlement of Karabakh conflict. The importance of the creation of the atmosphere of confidence, contacts among the societies have always been emphasized in the speeches of the RA President Serzh Sargsyan. A vivid example of this are the words of the President said during the opening ceremony of Dilijan international school: "I honestly want that Azerbaijani students also study here. I am sure that this day will come and I wish this day comes as soon as possible."

In response to the creation of Baku platform, Armenian sides did not resort to any relevant step understanding the importance of not creating other obstacles for public diplomacy and not finally devaluing it. It is not an accident that international expert Thomas de Vaal, who is quite deeply aware of the processes taking place in the context of Karabakh conflict, in one of his interviews said that Baku platform is a road leading to nowhere. At the same time he stressed that EPNK is the only real platform for dialogue now.

As for the activities of the NGOs of Armenia, then recently changes took place in the law of "Non-governmental organizations" and in related bills - simplification of the administrative work of the registration of NGOs, the clarification of voluntary engagement, accountability, and the ability to engage in business activities, etc.

Such changes, simplification of the procedures and the expansion of the activities of NGOs once again prove that the role of the civil society is important in the RA and the state will not create any obstacles in the contacts with the societies, SCOs of other countries, of Azerbaijan as well.

Summarizing, it should be mentioned that it would be possible to record a serious progress in Karabakh conflict settlement process, when the manifestations of Armenophobia and racism in Azerbaijan cease to be and an atmosphere of confidence is created among the sides, as the only way to avoid unwanted consequences is the creation and strengthening of mutual trust. Unfortunately the Azerbaijani authorities continue growing up their youth with hatred towards Armenians, while the allegedly "constructive" steps done towards Track 2 are just imitations, which is an attempt to completely eliminate the possibility of sincere and open communication, and make that dialogue serve their propaganda machine.