Armenian Members of “Peace Bridge” Respond to Hikmet Hajiyev: Building Peace Requires Responsible Rhetoric

YEREVAN — The Armenian members of the “Peace Bridge” initiative have expressed concern over recent developments related to the presentation of Armenian cultural heritage during a visit by diplomats to the medieval Gandzasar Monastery complex and its adjacent museum.

“At a time when significant progress has already been achieved in the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process, and when both societies are expected to continue transitioning toward a new culture of relations after decades of conflict, public statements and actions carry particular importance,” the group said in a statement.

“Recent developments deepen mistrust and create additional space for those who argue that dialogue is meaningless and that efforts to achieve peace are futile. Building peace requires difficult and sincere conversations, attentiveness to each other’s concerns, and a conscious effort to avoid actions that could reopen wounds or intensify hostile attitudes.

“We therefore call on all actors involved in the peace process to act in accordance with the responsibility of this moment and to refrain from rhetoric and actions that could be perceived as destructive.”

The statement was signed by Areg Kochinyan, Naira Sultanyan, Boris Navasardyan, Narek Minasyan and Samuel Meliksetyan.

The statement followed a visit to Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev and a group of diplomats, during which Hajiyev reportedly presented Armenian cultural heritage sites as belonging to Caucasian Albania.