ARMENIA – AZERBAIJAN PLATFORM FOR PEACE^

FOUNDING

For the first time – the 8^th of November 2016 – during the Armenia – Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Human Rights Defending organizations and members of civil society institutions from Armenia and Azerbaijan came together to organize an international conference. Participants of the international conference entitled ”Armenia – Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: main obstacles and prospects of the settlement. View from Armenia and Azerbaijan” consider an appeal to the Presidents and People of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The appeal says that the people of Armenia and Azerbaijan got tired of this long-term conflict and don’t want to incur losses. They declare the importance of public diplomacy for the resolution of the conflict peacefully in a short time.

As the result of discussions on the legal-political and institutional status of the new proposed peace initiative on December 6, 2016 in Baku has been announced the official activity of ”Armenia – Azerbaijan Platform for Peace”.

Despite the short period of activity of ”Armenia – Azerbaijan Platform for Peace”, the organization received many requests to join. At present the requests to join into the platform come not only from Armenia and Azerbaijan, but also from the public and political figures from all over the World.

The aim of ”Armenia – Azerbaijan Platform for Peace” is a civil contribution for the resolution of Armenia – Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within norms and principles determined by the international law.

STATEMENT ON ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ”ARMENIA – AZERBAIJAN PLATFORM FOR PEACE”

We, considering the appeal to the Presidents and People of Azerbaijan and Armenia adopted at the conference entitled ”Armenia – Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: main obstacles and prospects of the settlement. View from Armenia and Azerbaijan” held in Baku on November 8, 2016 (Appendix 1),

– Noting with a heavy heart the death of tens of thousands of people from the both sides, hundreds of thousands of people who became IDPs and refugees as a result of Armenia – Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict which remains unresolved for more than 25 years,

– Accepting the importance to prevent further casualties from both sides and resolve the conflict by peaceful means,

– Stressing with regret that perceptions of new generations growing in both countries towards each other are formed only in the context of war as a result of unsettlement of the conflict,

– Admitting that the resolution of the conflict is possible according to the will of the People of Armenia and Azerbaijan,

– Referring to the tradition of coexistence of the People of Armenia and Azerbaijan,

– Accepting that the people of both Azerbaijan and Armenia by exercising their right to self-determination established independent and sovereign Republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia within their internationally recognized borders,

– Reiterating the respect and support to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia within the internationally recognized borders,

– Considering the current status-quo dangerous, unacceptable and unsustainable, as it was also repeatedly stated by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs at the Heads of State level,

– Recognizing the importance to implement the relevant resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council and resolutions and decisions of other international organizations on the settlement of the conflict,

– Stressing the liberation of seven districts adjacent to the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan from occupation as an important starting point for step-by-step settlement of the conflict and building lasting peace in the region,

– Recognizing the right of IDPs to return to their native lands with dignity and safety,

– Accepting the importance to guarantee the security of Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan,

– Stressing the importance to determine the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan as Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Republic within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,

Agreed on the following:

1. To establish the ”Armenia – Azerbaijan Platform for Peace” to continue the peace initiative established on November 8, 2016 and contribute positively to the settlement of Armenia – Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

2. To announce the Platform open for civil society institutions, NGOs, public and religious figures, experts, academicians and ordinary people from Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as other countries willing to contribute to this initiative to enhance the ”Armenia – Azerbaijan Platform for Peace”.

3. Platform to establish sustainable cooperation with societies of both countries and engage in effective People to People diplomacy activities to contribute to the soonest settlement of the conflict by peaceful means.

4. Platform guided by the norms and principles of international law and Helsinki Final Act to closely cooperate with the OSCE Minsk Group and co-chair countries to support the settlement of the conflict.

5. Platform to encourage the Governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan to take comprehensive measures towards the liberation of seven districts adjacent to the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan from occupation as an initial step, return of IDPs to their native lands, guaranteeing the security of Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and restoration of political–economic relations and opening of communications between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

6. Platform to hold public discussions and make suggestions and recommendations on the settlement of Armenia – Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

7. Platform to take steps in regard with ethnic reconciliation of the People of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

8. To organize meetings of Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of Nagorno-Karabakh region by the Platform to discuss coexistence, final status of Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and peace process.

9. To hold a Forum titled ”Road to Peace” in an extended format with the participation of Armenian and Azerbaijani members of the Platform and international partners.

10. Platform to take necessary steps to establish cooperation with international organizations to bring conflicting parties closer to the peace.

11. To establish a Secretariat of the Platform to organize the activity of the ”Armenia – Azerbaijan Platform for Peace”. Two co-chairs, one from each country to lead the Platform.

12. To inform the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the UN and its specialized agencies, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the European Union and other international intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations on the establishment of ”Armenia – Azerbaijan Platform for Peace”.

From Armenia:

Vahe Avetian human rights defender

Vaan Martirosian chairman of Public Organization ”National Liberation Movement”

Suzan Jaghinyan Journalist, vice-president of human rights non-governmental organization ”Meridian”

From Azerbaijan

Rovshan Rzayev member of the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh

Kamil Safarov professor of Baku State University

Shalala Hasanova chairperson of Public Union ”Support for the Development of Communication with Public”

VISION

With the aim of establish just peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan and sustainable reconciliation between two nations we started our activity created ”Armenia – Azerbaijan Peace Platform”. We desire that each person who wants his motherland exists in sustainable peace and in prosperity will support the platform that has an aim as peace, justice and safety.

Regardless of race, creed, or national origin we believe that each person and nation can live together in mutual respect, justice and tolerance. That is why we consider the importance of the resolution of Armenia – Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within norms and principles determined by the international law and we want to give serious contribution to this process.

The main advantage of the platform is that the representatives of Armenian and Azerbaijan have certain approaches and visions which at the same time could play an important role to ensure sustainable peace and security. The platform is not based on abstract ideas or unreal thoughts, but organizes its activity on norms and principles of the international law and on the international documents adopted concerning this conflict, moreover determines the resolution of the conflict regarding on these principles.

The main principles of the Armenia – Azerbaijan Peace Platform that sees peace and security as the core of flourishing of each nation:

1. Platform unites in itself civil society institutions, NGOs, public and religious figures, experts, media, political figures and ordinary people from Armenia and Azerbaijan and providing peacebuilding mission, creating cooperation, as well as other countries willing to contribute to this initiative to enhance the ”Armenia – Azerbaijan Platform for Peace”.

2. Platform supports sustainable peaceful resolution of the conflict referring norms and principles of international law, especially The Charter of the United Nations, Helsinki Final Act, the resolutions of the UN Security Council regarding the conflict – 822, 253, 854, 884.

3. Platform considers as a main condition that encourages Armenia to take comprehensive measures towards the liberation of seven occupied districts adjacent to the Nagorno-Karabakh from occupation as an initial step, return of IDPs to their native lands and houses.

4. Platform highlights the importance of guaranteeing the security of Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of the Nagorno-Karabakh, Stressing the importance to determine the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh as Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Republic within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

5. Platform also considers important that encourage Azerbaijan to take comprehensive measures towards protecting safety, honor and dignity of Armenian community of Nagorno-Karabakh.

6. Platform holds public discussions and makes suggestions and recommendations to the states – sides of conflict, also plans to provide public discussions, meetings and presentation in the countries that are interested in enlargement of platform.

7. Platform during the conflict and after its resolving will make maximum efforts to get trust and confidence between Armenian and Azerbaijan people for the disappearance of hate and rancor for keep sustainable peace and prosperity.

We look to our history not to profound hate and discrimination, but we look as lesson to create new future. We see as main aim of platform not to transfer past looses destruction and sufferings to the further generations. We are testimonies of how war brings bigger catastrophes instead of peace and progress, so we believe that ultra-nationalism and chauvinism will even put the humanity in more darkness. Therefore for this reason, we establish the platform on humanism and amicability and consider as guarantee for the bright future.