Yerevan-Baku TV bridges focus on Karabakh problem

On March 26-28, Yerevan-Baku satellite TV conferences were held. They were organized by the Yerevan and Baku Press Clubs under the "Possible Resolutions to the Karabah Conflict: Expert Evaluations and Media Coverage" joint project, supported by the Open Society Institute Network Media Program. The Stepanakert Press Club was also involved in the project implementation. Technical assistance in conducting the TV bridges was provided by Mir Interstate TV and Radio Company. Experts and journalists of the two countries participated in the conferences discussing different aspects of the Nagorno-Karabah problem and Armenian-Azerbaijan relations in general.

The 26-27 March TV conferences were devoted to the research on the Karabah conflict settlement. The surveys were conducted in 2003, using the Delphi method, among the experts of Armenia (15 political scientists, heads and political observers of media), Azerbaijan (15 analysts and political observers of leading media) and Nagorny Karabah (5 political scientists, heads and political observers of media). On the first day, the results of the Delphi examination in Armenia and Nagorny Karabah were presented by the Armenian project coordinator, Ashot Melikian. On the second day, the head of the examination in Azerbaijan, Rasim Musabekov, introduced the results of the survey among the Azerbaijan experts. After discussing the report, a joint Armenian-Azerbaijan conclusion concerning the Karabah problem resolution was publicized. It was based on the summary of the Delphi examination results. The main argument of this conclusion was: "Although the views and approaches of the Armenian and Azerbaijan sides are quite controversial in many aspects, nevertheless certain potential was observed for reconciliation of the positions to achieve visible progress in the peaceful settlement of the Karabah conflict."

On March 28, at the third Yerevan-Baku TV bridge, the audience was presented the results of the monitorings of the Karabah problem coverage by the media of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorny Karabah, conducted simultaneously (March 1 - July 31, 2003) with the same methodology. Media monitoring coordinators - Yalchin Salimov in Azerbaijan and Elina Pogosbekian in Armenia and Nagorny Karabah - made reports.