Line of Contact
A joint initiative of the Baku and Yerevan Press Clubs
The description of this project has been provided by the implementing partner.
About the project
Line f Contact is a joint initiative run by the Baku and Yerevan Press Clubs. The project has brought together journalists and experts from Azerbaijan and Armenia. They hold public discussions on relations between the two societies and on reconciliation in the region. The project includes the publication of articles and the weekly TV programmes ‘Line of Contact: Current Topic’ and ‘Line of Contact: Events of the Week’.
The initiative aims to promote respectful dialogue, reduce levels of hostility, eradicate hate speech and strengthen the role of society in building peace.
To date the project has seen the broadcasting of over 70 programmes and the publication of over 100 articles in Russian, with several published in local languages as well, which have reached an overall audience of over a million people.
A joint venture
As the programmes and articles are being prepared, particular attention is paid to the research aspect. The project team does regular media monitoring and organises expert focus groups to identify predominant stereotypes and the topics that are most important to people. This work has formed the basis of reference materials, handbooks and reports.
During the broadcasts participants from Armenia and Azerbaijan discuss topical issues. Within the framework of these discussions, they are able to express their opinions freely. The only rules are that they should be respectful of opposing views and should suggest solutions to the issues. Some of the ideas put forward during the project have received responses from officials.
To help establish dialogue between the communities, the two organisations run training courses for journalists, round tables with experts from both sides of the conflict and public events involving young people, cultural figures and displaced people.
The initiative has had a tangible impact on how the conflict is discussed. In the media and among experts people are now increasingly using mutually acceptable language to talk about the issues, avoiding hate speech and focusing on constructive solutions.
Many young people who had previously had no experience of talking to people on the ‘other side’ are now joining the dialogue. Analysis of social media comments about the broadcasts and articles have also shown that the audience has begun to have more faith in the possibility of peaceful engagement.
Future of the project
The organisations intend to continue the work of the project and to set up a shared media platform to publish new content. In addition, they are collaborating on compiling a Glossary and Guidelines for coverage of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
There are also plans to conduct further research, with public opinion surveys, expert interviews and strategic meetings about the development of the project. The intention is also to attract a wider range of participants in the broadcasts, including female experts, displaced people and people living in different regions on the two sides.
Watch the broadcasts
The programmes and articles can be found in the ‘Analysis’ section of this website. An Archive of the broadcasts on the Yerevan Press Club website.
‘EU Mission staying, USAID leaving, Moscow arguing: how will this affect relations between Baku and Yerevan?’ Broadcast (in Russian) on the Baku Press Club YouTube channel, 3 February 2025.
‘Will the “Crossroads of Peace” turn Armenia into a regional hub?’ Boris Navasardyan | Sabit Bagirov”. Broadcast (in Russian) on the CivilNet YouTube channel, 24 November 2023 .
