Let's PeaceJam!

On June 30th the first online video-conference among the Armenian and Azeri youth took place. This was the first introductory conference in the series of the bilateral and trilateral video-conferences/lectures/discussions among the youth in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh still to happen. The discussion topics will vary from EU Integration to gender issues, nationalism vs globalisation, youth subculture, generation gap, art, etc. 

The purpose of the project, supported by the FCO Conflict Pool, is to overcome the stereotypes, uncover the myths, and facilitates debate to increase of the level of confidence in peaceful resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict among young Armenians and Azeris.

The hosts of the project are Civil Society Institute (Armenia), Society of Humanitarian Researches (Azerbaijan) and Conflict Transformation and Peace-Building Resource Centre in Stepanakert (Nagorno Karabakh).

The participants on both sides were excited to attend the Peace Jam. The first introductory meeting went very well, and both sides called for dialogue and active participation. One of the Armenian participants said, “I am very excited to have a chance to participate in this video conference and I am interested in hearing the feedback of the Azerbaijani youth over the issues we are concerned about. It’s also a unique opportunity to learn the opinion of the experts from Azerbaijan and address them the questions”.

Deputy Head of Mission of the British Embassy Yerevan, Gareth Wynn Owen, greeted both sides and said that the Peace Jam can have a serious impact on conflict transformation. He also stressed the UK’s support for the peaceful resolution of the conflict.