“We must create new narratives that do not dehumanize the other side,” said writer and cultural anthropologist Lusine Haratyan at a press conference held within the framework of the “Peace Bridge” initiative on the meeting of experts from Azerbaijani and Armenian civil societies.

Axar.az reports, citing APА, “The creation of new narratives is important — narratives that do not dehumanize the other side, but instead emphasize presenting people as human beings. The less hate speech there is in the media, the healthier, more sustainable, and long-term this process will be, and people’s trust both in the process and in the path to peace will increase. I think this is a very concrete step that can be taken on both sides.

This is not about forgetting the past — we all remember the past. But what is important is that this past should not be presented solely through the dehumanization of the other side; rather, the human aspect should be highlighted. In this regard, there is a need for new media stories and new narratives. Meetings and discussions alone are not enough, although they are already taking place,” the writer noted.

The Armenian expert also touched upon the role of the media in normalizing relations.

“As for the media issue, this was one of the main topics discussed during today’s panel. The role of the media in building dialogue and shaping the agenda is very significant. Certain changes have been observed in this direction since August. Following the launch of the ‘Peace Bridge’ initiative, the number of materials and interviews has also increased. Armenian experts are giving interviews to Azerbaijani media, and Azerbaijani experts are giving interviews to Armenian media.

It is also important, as noted, to reduce hate speech. Most importantly, through the media, it is necessary to explain to people what peace actually means. Many people do not fully understand the essence of peace. At the same time, the advantages and positive aspects that a peace agreement will bring should also be explained.

We will continue our work in this direction,” Haratyan added.