The Platform Created in Azerbaijan Distorts the Essence of Track 2

• 12.08.2016, 17:15
• Greta Avetisyan
•  "Insight" Analytical Center ,  Armenia,  NKR

Recently the Azerbaijani media disseminated news that a platform "For reaching peace between Armenians and Azerbaijanis" has been created as if for having a positive impact on the Karabakh conflict settlement process. According to the declared aim the platform is a component of Track 2 diplomacy (contact between the civil society) which should promote dialogue between the two societies.

The Armenian sides have declared many times that without trust between the two societies it is impossible to talk about the final settlement of Karabakh conflict. The Azerbaijani authorities, however, have periodically hindered the steps done in this direction. In this regard one should remember that not long ago under different pretexts representatives of civil society organizations, activists were arrested for carrying out peace-building projects and for having contacts with Armenians.

The platform, created in Azerbaijan, however, is out of the logic of Track 2 diplomacy and is an imitation of it for several simple reasons.

First, the actors of Track 2 are the activists of civil society movements, organizations  or representatives of media and think thanks who are well perceived by the society, whose words have influence on a large segment of the society. In this regard the members of the newly-created platform – Vahan Martirosyan, Vahe Avetyan and Susan Jaghinyan does not have such a role in the Armenian society. Moreover, there is an expressed negative attitude towards them as people, who have handed themselves over the Azerbaijani authorities and have become the tools of Azerbaijan’s propaganda machine.

Second, Track 2 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. Through such people, however, it is not realistic to talk about confidence building or positively influencing on the negotiation process.

Third, inclusiveness is an important factor in Track 2 diplomacy - that is ensuring the engagement of all parties of the conflict, which simply is absent in this platform.

Concluding, it should be mentioned that by creating the platform "For reaching peace between Armenians and Azerbaijanis," the Azerbaijani side once more imitated to be constructive and this is directed towards its own and the international community. This kind of platform distorts the essence of Track 2 hindering further cooperation in similar formats and creating a danger that those cooperating with Armenians in other formats would be perceived as traitors and would be persecuted.