On 15th July Hana Mosavie attended the state committee meeting to discuss the Nagorno-Karabakh territorial conflict. This article is written on attended and this is written from her perspective.

The interesting element of this discussion is that I had no prior invested interests in the conflict. Coming as a complete by-stander to the conversation not only saw the raw passion of the Azerbaijani individuals but a very sensitive topic for my own approaches to be understood.

The conflict has been going on for 30 years, in the last 30 years there have been peace agreements and continual areas of debate. The last 4 days had seen more deaths and more topical discussion on the occupation of land. The conversation went from specialist to specialists discussing the need for peace, to unify and contact local politicians to lobby on their behalf from across the world.

When my speech came, it was evident to be completely impartial despite the right approach. I had mentioned the best effective ways of peace and governance in the Nagorno-Karabakh region is to understand the oppositions side, what their own beliefs for the occupation may be. At this point in the conversation the Azeri side can represent their point of view. The region and the citizens have more commonality that differences, yet the perfect proxy style of war, divide and conquer allows the rift to be widened.

Knowing that this is a time of pain, its hard to ask people that have felt personally prosecuted by their race to be killed, even if they are not related. The idea that it could have been them, their family members or loved ones. That they look so closely like the ones killed can hit home, rise fear, and want to protect themselves. The natural fight or flight instinct comes in, and of course, this can allow for further conflict. Its unfortunate to ask to be the bigger person in a situation that is so freshly painful, yet as history tells us from the last 30 years in this area, it will not otherwise stop.

We all know hate does not just derive from nothing. It stems from a selection of things, misinformation, betrayal, insecurity, jealous and greed. If you find a bond with a group of people you understand their intent. If the bond is strong enough, it cannot be corrupted by money, lies, or malice. The reason for the proxy war is beyond us, yet as citizens of the world, of different countries, we are not powerless. Our power is not to fall for the painful bait of war, greed, and destruction.

This of course is far easier said than done, to ask the state committee to bite the pain and try to find a commonality with the Armenians was a hard ask, and honestly, too early. However, what otherwise will happen? More hate will resonate and the pull out from this spiral of conflict will become harder, more ingrained with no end in sight.

My condolences to all the lives lost in this conflict and all the conflicts across the world. A peaceful solution is always available, but it takes far more brain power, strength, and mental ability to see someone that had killed or harmed your peer.

Azerbaijan and Armenia Territorial Conflict