At the meeting held in Abu Dhabi between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia, the expansion of civil society contacts and confidence-building measures was discussed. President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan welcomed reciprocal visits by representatives of the two countries and exchanged views on the implementation of TRIPP and other regional connectivity projects.
Human rights defender Ahmad Shahidov told ARB24 TV that this approach serves the gradual building of trust in the post-conflict period: “Mutual contacts between civil society representatives are of great importance in overcoming psychological barriers between the sides. This creates a foundation for the peace agenda to be embraced by societies alongside official negotiations.”
According to Ahmad Shahidov, the leaders’ reaffirmation of their commitment to the normalization process sends an important message for long-term stability in the region: “TRIPP and other connectivity projects contribute not only to economic development but also to strengthening political trust. Azerbaijan’s constructive position in this process opens new opportunities for regional cooperation.”
