The meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev under the auspices of President of the European Council Charles Michel, on Sunday 22 May, allowed progress to be made in easing tensions between the two countries.
In a “frank and productive” discussion, according to Mr Michel, the leaders agreed to advance discussions on the future peace treaty governing inter-state relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “Teams led by the foreign ministers will take forward this process in the coming weeks”, the European Council president said in a statement to the media, adding that it was necessary that the rights and security of the ethnic Armenian population in Karabakh be addressed.
The Azerbaijani president and the Armenian prime minister also agreed that the first joint meeting of the border commissions would take place at the interstate border “in the coming days”. According to Mr Michel, the meeting will address “all questions related to the delimitation of the border and how best to ensure a stable situation”.
In addition, the leaders agreed on the need to unblock transport links. They defined the principles governing transit between western Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan and between different parts of Armenia via Azerbaijan, as well as international transport through the communications infrastructure of both countries. In addition, Aliyev and Pashinyan agreed on the principles of border administration, security, and land rights, but also customs in the context of international transport. “The deputy prime ministers will take this work forward in the coming days”, Michel said.
The President of the European Council also announced that the EU would take forward with both parties the work of the Economic Advisory Group, which seeks to advance economic development “for the benefit of both countries and their populations”.
Beyond all these agreements, the three leaders had a detailed discussion on humanitarian issues, including demining and efforts to free detainees and address the fate of missing persons, according to the President of the European Council. Mr Michel also stressed that the EU was ready to step up its support to prepare the populations for long-term sustainable peace.
A further meeting in the same format is expected to take place in July or August. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)