AZERBAIJAN’s President Ilham Aliyev has said “no” to a planned meeting with Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at a European summit in Granada, Spain.
The reason behind this move is European support for Armenia in the ongoing conflict over the Karabakh region.
Just two weeks ago, President Aliyev’s forces successfully recaptured Nagorno-Karabakh from pro-Armenian separatists. The planned talks, mediated by France, Germany, and the European Council, were meant to address this long-standing conflict.
An AFP report citing an Azerbaijani government official said that Azerbaijan didn’t think it was necessary to join the talks in such a format, adding that Aliyev’s decision was influenced by what they called “pro-Armenian statements” by French officials and concerns about weapon supplies to Armenia.
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna had recently announced Paris’s agreement to provide military equipment to Armenia, though specifics were not given.
EU Council President Charles Michel also criticized Azerbaijan’s use of military force.
On the other hand, Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan confirmed his attendance at the European Political Community or EPC summit in Granada but expressed disappointment about not being able to sign a significant agreement with Azerbaijani President Aliyev regarding Karabakh.
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh has been ongoing for years, with Armenia and Azerbaijan engaging in hostilities in the 1990s and again in a major war in 2020. Azerbaijan eventually regained control over large parts of the region.
In May 2023, the Armenian government recognized Azerbaijan’s claim to the territory but also called for protection for ethnic Armenians in the region.
The recent Azerbaijani offensive last September has led to most of the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh fleeing, and the separatist government agreeing to dissolve amidst the ongoing tensions.
To recall, starting January 1, 2024, Nagorno-Karabakh will cease to exist and this includes all state institutions and organizations under its departmental subordination by the said date.
