Azerbaijan says talks with Armenia in Brussels ‘useful’ for normalization

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Baku said on Monday that a meeting between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia on Sunday was "useful and result-oriented" in terms of advancing the normalization process between the two countries.

The discussion between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was mediated by European Council President Charles Michel in Brussels.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry in a statement said a detailed exchange took place to draft a peace agreement, the delimitation of borders, and resumption of communications.

It said Baku’s position on "securing peace and stability in the region” was expressed, adding that respect for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity was highlighted.

“The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss humanitarian issues crucial for post-conflict normalization. In this context, the importance of clarifying the fate of missing persons and speeding up steps in demining was emphasized once again,” the ministry said.

It argued that normalization based on “mutual recognition and respect of each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international borders” is "the only way to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region."

Baku welcomed the efforts to achieve progress in normalization, and reaffirmed its readiness to continue dialogue and interaction with international partners in this regard.

Michel in a statement after the meeting said it was a "pleasure" to meet the two for the fifth meeting in Brussels.

"Our exchanges were frank, open and result-oriented. They focused on progress on the path towards Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization. The leaders shared a common willingness for a South Caucasus at peace. I commend their respective efforts. Together, we reviewed all issues on our agenda," Michel said.

Following the recent "positive talks" held in the US on the peace treaty, the momentum should be maintained to take "decisive steps" towards the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, he added.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan took part in peace talks in the US capital between April 30 and May 3, with meetings at the White House and State Department.

Relations between the two former Soviet republics have been tense since 1991 when Armenia occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

Most of the territory was liberated by Baku during a war in the fall of 2020, which ended after a Russian-brokered peace agreement and also opened the door to normalization.

Tensions between the neighboring countries increased in recent months over the Lachin corridor, the only land route giving Armenia access to Karabakh.