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Youths’ Critical Perspectives on the Peace Process

For over forty years, the volatile relationship between Armenia and Azerbaijan has been defined by the dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh, known to Armenians as Artsakh. What began as localised ethnic friction under Soviet rule erupted into full-scale war following the USSR’s collapse in 1991. Although the enclave was situated inside Azerbaijan’s borders, its population was overwhelmingly Armenian. The initial conflict claimed tens of thousands of lives and triggered a massive humanitarian crisis. For decades, the region remained a geopolitical flashpoint, punctuated by periodic escalations and border clashes. The status quo was shattered in 2023 when Azerbaijan launched a swift military offensive, seizing absolute control, driving out the ethnic Armenian population, and effectively dissolving the autonomous region.

Following this dissolution, Armenia and Azerbaijan initiated peace talks. After protracted negotiations, the leaders of both nations initialled a framework agreement in August 2025 to normalise bilateral relations. This framework includes a mutual renunciation of the use of force, alongside the recognition of state sovereignty and territorial integrity. However, because a concrete timeline for signing the definitive treaty remains absent, the peace process remains fluid. Bilateral trust remains low, and significant geopolitical obstacles persist. To ensure a successful and durable peace, both parties must address critical remaining hurdles, including border delimitation and regional connectivity.

Cultivating an environment supportive of communication, mutual cooperation, and integration remains essential to ensuring a sustainable peace agreement. This requirement applies heavily to the youth demographics in border regions, who have come of age during periods of protracted conflict and militarisation, yet represent the first peacetime generation. Given that upcoming economic and infrastructural frameworks will profoundly dictate their socio-economic future, incorporating youth into the peace architecture is imperative. They must be adequately informed of ongoing developments and integrated into consultative dialogues regarding future regional planning. This initiative is designed to facilitate these specific engagement channels.