Azerbaijani President Aliyev Holds Meeting with European Council President Michel
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is currently in Brussels to hold talks with European Union leaders. Among his Brussels contacts, the President met with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, to discuss the ongoing peace agreement negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Later, Aliyev is expected to hold a trilateral meeting with Michel and the Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, to continue the discussions on the matter.
This is not the first time that Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan have met in Brussels for negotiations. Last year, they met twice in December 2021 and April 2022 at the invitation of EU President Charles Michel. The trio format meeting held on 31 August 2022, which was planned to be held again in Brussels on December 7, 2022, was eventually canceled after Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan announced that he could attend the meeting only if French President Emmanuel Macron was also present.
The ongoing discussions between Azerbaijan and Armenia are critical as they aim to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region. The negotiations revolve around various issues, including the establishment of economic relationships and transport links, among others. The talks are also expected to address the issue of prisoners of war and other missing persons after the 44-day war that took place in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have a long history of conflicts and deep-rooted territorial disputes, making the negotiations a complex process. However, both parties’ commitment to continue the discussions gives hope that a peaceful resolution can be reached. The trilateral meeting between Aliyev, Michel, and Pashinyan is a crucial step towards achieving this goal.
