Spotlight on displacement in Azerbaijan

 

Over the last three years, Conciliation Resources in cooperation with its long-term partner, the Baku-based Society for Humanitarian Research, has supported the emergence of a network of NGOs in Azerbaijan working on IDP issues. 

 

This initiative, included organising exchange visits between the ‘Synergy’ network in Georgia and the ‘Opportunities Through Unity’ network from Azerbaijan; enabling local activism, and supporting a number of small projects run by local organisations. It is part of Conciliation Resources’ work as part of the European Partnership for the Peaceful Settlement over Nagorny Karabakh (EPNK). 

 

On 30 April, the Azerbaijani network organised a final event in Baku and presented the main findings of recently conducted research – New Housing and the Hope to Return*. Representatives of the network alongside Conciliation Resources, informed the 50 participants in attendance about their cooperation with Georgian colleagues as well presenting the Qala News Bulletin – a monthly publication covering IDP-relevant topics. 

 

The EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, Ambassador Herbert Salber, also joined the gathering. Following his statement, in which he stressed that, "In [the resolution of] this conflict every single voice is important", an open discussion took place with critical questions concerning the EU’s approach towards the Nagorny Karabakh conflict and the situation of IDPs. He voiced his appreciation for the role of civil society in contributing to the resolution of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict and reiterated the EU’s support for the EPNK initiative. 

 

Ambassador Salber’s participation represented an important milestone in the discussion between international players and NGO representatives in the Nagorny Karabakh conflict context.