The Armenia-Azerbaijan Strategic Expert Platform Statement ahead of the 3rd South Caucasus Regional Dialogue Forum

The Armenia-Azerbaijan Strategic Expert Platform

Statement ahead of the 3rd South Caucasus Regional Dialogue Forum

“Ways for future action”

The Armenia-Azerbaijan Strategic Expert Platform was set up in 2024, with the help of LINKS Europe, to provide a continuous space where Armenian and Azerbaijani experts can hold direct discussions and analysis, in compliment with wider processes involving governments and other initiatives, including those involving civil society and academia.

The current members of the platform, all of who serve in a personal capacity, are: from Armenia, Dr Stepan Grigorian, Dr Benyamin Poghosyan and Mr Johnny Melikyan; and from Azerbaijan, Dr Anar Valiyev, Mr Mehman Aliyev and Mr Ramazan Samadov. Mr Murad Muradov is a guest-member and attends meetings. Dr Dennis Sammut represents LINKS Europe on the Platform.

South Caucasus Regional Dialogue Forum

The members of the platform welcome the holding of the 3rd South Caucasus Regional Dialogue Forum. Regional dialogue must form the basis on which future relations between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia can and should be built.

The members of the platform recall the first South Caucasus Regional Dialogue Forum held in Kachreti in August 2023, and the second forum held in Tbilisi in October 2025, and they recognise the importance of the discussions held at both events which were attended by many participants from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, as well as leading members of the international community.

We need more open dialogue, we need to involve more stakeholders, and we need to expand the themes under discussion.

It is now time for region co-operation to become tangible, and for the three countries to work together on matters of strategic importance.

The quest for peace in the South Caucasus

The signing of the Washington declaration, and the initialling of the Armenia - Azerbaijan peace agreement, at the White House on 8th August 2025, was truly historic event and a potential game changer for the whole region. Yet this process is incomplete – the peace agreement has not yet been signed. And as Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev emphasized several times, “peace is still fragile, and it needs to be protected and needs to be consolidated”.

Armenian and Azerbaijani members of the platform warn against complacency in supporting peace efforts. The task is not yet finished, and efforts must be exerted to ensure lasting peace, stability and prosperity in South Caucasus. Work for peace must be sustained.

The members of the platform welcome the four reports of the Thematic Groups that brought together 42 Armenian and Azerbaijani experts. The four reports agreed in November 2025, contain many important and useful ideas many of which are essential if Armenia-Azerbaijan peace is going to be build on solid and sustainable grounds. This work must be sustained.

Lasting and sustainable peace is only possible if there is a better understanding between two societies.

The South Caucasus is a key – not just a transit corridor: a region connecting regions

We, Armenian and Azerbaijani members of the Strategic Expert Platform strongly believe in the importance of the South Caucasus, as a region connecting regions, of its huge potential, and its resourcefulness. It is however important to underline that the region is a key, not a transit corridor. Those who think of it simply as a transit point are mistaken. The countries of the South Caucasus have hundreds of years of experience of engaging, to the north, to the south, the East and the west. They are the key that opens and connects. Russia, Turkey, Iran, the European Union, Central Asia, Ukraine, the Arab Gulf countries, and others, are the potential partners of the South Caucasus, and the future must be built together, based on mutual respect.

Iran is a neighbour; the South Caucasus should provide a space for a new Euro-Iranian Dialogue

Iran is our neighbour and has historically played a significant role in the lives of the peoples of the South Caucasus.

The Armenian and Azerbaijani members of the Strategic Platform appreciate the nuanced and sophisticated way that Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia have dealt with Iran, and Iranian issues, since June 2025

We believe that Armenia and Azerbaijan can and should actively help reduce tensions surrounding Iran.

Within its capabilities, our expert platform is ready to support contacts between experts and civil society representatives, put forward proposals to build trust, and facilitate dialogue between Iran and Europe.

Such a contribution to peacebuilding efforts is needed now since the future of our neighbouring country, and the well-being of its population, are directly linked to the security and sustainable development of our region.

The South Caucasus and Central Asia

The countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia share a common recent history. Economic, social and human ties developed over decades, and this included the common experience of building independent statehood following the dissolution of the USSR. Despite differences in their development paths, the South Caucasus and Central Asia face common tasks: strengthening sovereignty, developing state institutions, modernising economies and improving the well-being of citizens. This shared experience and these common goals provide a basis for cooperation on an equal footing.

Combining the efforts of the countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia can foster regional integration based on respect for sovereignty and mutual benefit. The members of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Strategic Expert Platform advocate developing links between the two regions in production, transport, energy, education and humanitarian cooperation. The expansion of the Middle Corridor connecting Central Asia, the Caucasus and Europe should also serve the development of local economies and strengthen direct ties between societies.

The European Union is an important partner for the South Caucasus; its engagement must be more strategic and focused.

The members of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Strategic Expert Platform positively assess the role of the European Union in the South Caucasus over the last three decades. They appreciate the contribution and consistency of the European Union and its member states, as well as other countries members of the European Political Community, in supporting the independence and statehood of the South Caucasus countries over the years.

The region has in front of it new opportunities, and new challenges. This requires a more focused and strategic approach on the part of the European Union towards the region. It also requires the countries of the region to be more active in engaging with European initiatives. An assessment of future relations is now necessary, and the members of the platform declare their readiness to contribute to this essential dialogue.

The members of the Platform call on the EU to use its political, moral and knowledge capital to contribute to the progress on humanitarian issues that are of concern for Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Humanitarian issues, Environment, Water, Landmines

There are some problems that simply are too big for any one country to deal with, or the solution lays in a wider context. Humanitarian issues, Water, environment and landmines are such topics, where urgent, common action is needed.

Landmines, and remaining humanitarian issues constitute one of the biggest and most serious problems facing the region. The countries of the region must work together on these issues, and we support a regional approach. The members of the platform welcome the efforts of the regional campaign Landmine Free South Caucasus and commend its objectives.

Investing in people

The Armenian and Azerbaijani members of the Strategic Platform strongly believe in the importance of investing in people and developing human capital if the future of the region is to be secured. This requires as a priority investment in young people and education. The members of the platform wish to propose that a South Caucasus Youth Centre be established in the region, initially in Georgia, modelled on the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg, with the participation of the regional countries and the international community, and that this could be a living example of the new South Caucasus build on the basis of friendship, mutual respect and solidarity.

Working in partnership

Peace, prosperity, regional-co-operation and solidarity can be achieved by the people of the South Caucasus, working in partnership together and with the people of neighbouring regions. We, the Armenian and Azerbaijani members of the Strategic Expert Platform, commit ourselves to this objective .

Dr Stepan Grigorian

Dr Benyamin Poghosyan

Johnny Melikyan

Dr Anar Valiyev

Mehman Aliyev

Ramazan Samadov

Murad Muradov

Dr Dennis Sammut

1 November 2026

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