Armenian Civil Society Delegation Visits Azerbaijan to Advance Peace Dialogue – Caspian Post

Report on the “Bridge of Peace” Initiative: Advancing Sustainable Development Goals 16 and 17 in the South Caucasus

Executive Summary: Fostering SDG 16 through Civil Society Dialogue

A civil society delegation from Armenia visited Azerbaijan under the “Bridge of Peace” Initiative, a significant step towards realizing Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). The meetings focused on strengthening the peace process through dialogue and cooperation, directly contributing to the goal of promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development.

Participants and Stakeholders

The initiative brought together key civil society representatives, demonstrating a multi-stakeholder partnership essential for peacebuilding efforts. This collaboration is a practical application of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

• Armenian Delegation:
  1. Areg Kochinyan
  2. Boris Navasardyan
  3. Naira Sultanyan
  4. Narek Minasyan
  5. Samvel Meliksetyan
• Azerbaijani Counterparts:
  1. Farhad Mammadov
  2. Rusif Huseynov
  3. Kamala Mammadova
  4. Ramil Iskandarli
  5. Fuad Abdullayev
• High-Level Engagement: The delegation met with Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant of the President of Azerbaijan, underscoring institutional support for the peace agenda.

Key Discussion Areas Aligned with SDG 16

Discussions centered on building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels by empowering civil society. The primary topics included:

• Analysis of the current dynamics of the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process.
• Defining the crucial role of civil society in fostering dialogue and reconciliation.
• Exploring potential joint projects to advance sustainable peace and development.
• Addressing topics of mutual interest to both societies concerning ongoing peace initiatives.

Outcomes and Future Commitments to SDG 17

The parties committed to a series of actions that strengthen global partnerships for sustainable development (SDG 17) by building local and regional networks for peace.

1. Strengthen Media Cooperation: To ensure public access to information and promote objective reporting, aligning with target 16.10 of the SDGs.
2. Establish Direct Expert Contacts: To facilitate knowledge-sharing and build trust between professional communities.
3. Ensure Continued Civil Society Engagement: To maintain momentum and ensure the peace agenda is inclusive and representative.
4. Maintain Regular Working-Level Contacts: To institutionalize the dialogue and plan future collaborative visits and projects under the initiative.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire text revolves around the “Bridge of Peace” Initiative, which aims to foster dialogue and advance the peace agenda between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The meetings between civil society representatives are a direct effort to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development.
2. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article describes a partnership between non-governmental actors (civil society representatives) from two different countries to achieve a common goal. This cross-border cooperation, as exemplified by the “Bridge of Peace” Initiative, directly aligns with the principles of SDG 17, which emphasizes the need for multi-stakeholder partnerships to achieve sustainable development objectives.

2. Specific SDG Targets

1. Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.
   • The article highlights the “role of civil society in fostering dialogue.” By bringing together civil society representatives from both nations to discuss the peace process, the initiative promotes an inclusive and participatory approach to peace-building, ensuring that non-state actors have a voice in shaping the peace agenda.
2. Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels… to prevent violence.
   • The agreement to “establish direct contacts between expert groups” and “strengthen cooperation in the media” is a form of capacity building. This international cooperation between civil society institutions aims to strengthen their ability to contribute effectively to preventing future conflict and advancing peace.
3. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
   • The “Bridge of Peace” Initiative is a direct example of a civil society partnership. The article details how these groups are working together, holding meetings, and planning future joint projects, which perfectly illustrates the promotion of such effective partnerships. The meeting with a presidential assistant, Hikmet Hajiyev, also points towards engagement between civil society and public institutions.

3. Mentioned or Implied Indicators

1. Regularity and frequency of engagement between conflicting parties.
   • The article implies this indicator when it states that both sides “committed to maintaining regular working-level contacts and planning future visits under the initiative.” Tracking the number and frequency of these meetings would be a direct measure of progress towards sustained dialogue (relevant to Target 16.7).
2. Establishment of formal cooperation mechanisms and joint projects.
   • This is implied by the discussion of “potential joint projects” and the agreement to “establish direct contacts between expert groups.” The successful creation of these projects or formal expert groups would serve as a concrete indicator of strengthened institutional capacity and partnership (relevant to Targets 16.a and 17.17).
3. Existence and continuation of cross-border civil society initiatives.
   • The “Bridge of Peace” Initiative itself is an indicator of an active civil society partnership (Target 17.17). Its continuation and the commitment to future activities demonstrate the durability and effectiveness of this partnership model for peace-building.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: caspianpost.com