Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham Aliyev met in Brussels on the initiative of Charles Michel, head of the European Council.

Following the meeting, the President of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia reiterated their commitment to the trilateral accords negotiated with Russia's mediation, according to European Council President Charles Michel. The success in creating communication between the defence agencies was highlighted by both presidents. The European Council suggested that Yerevan and Baku establish a forum for the growth of economic cooperation and the strengthening of trust.

Charles Michel’s statement underscores the importance of restoring communications between Armenia and Azerbaijan and in the South Caucasus region, noting that this process should take place with full respect for the sovereignty of all countries.

During the conference, President Michel stated that it was decided that rebuilding the railway lines is crucial. Furthermore, the European Council proclaims its willingness to help communication unblocking.

The Armenian media drew attention to the tension between the meeting's participants even before it began. The President of Azerbaijan, speaking at a joint press conference with the NATO Secretary-General, said:

“Trilateral agreements openly state that Azerbaijan provides security and access to the Lachin corridor. Armenia should provide us with the same unhindered access to the Zangezur corridor.

There are no customs checks in the Lachin corridor at this time. In the Zangezur corridor, it should be the same. We would insist on the same circumstances in the Lachin corridor if Armenia persists on installing customs stations to regulate the passage of goods and persons via the Zangezur corridor. It's just natural."

Nikol Pashinyan, Armenia's Prime Minister, responded to the President of Azerbaijan's comments, saying that "the Zangezur corridor should work similarly to the Lachin corridor."

“Azerbaijan is trying to come to a dead-end in the issue of opening regional communications. The attempts of the President of Azerbaijan to draw parallels between the opening of regional communications and the Lachin corridor have nothing to do with the discussions that we have had so far, as well as with the signed statements, and are unacceptable for Armenia. I will unambiguously present this position at the upcoming trilateral meeting today,” Pashinyan wrote on his Facebook page.

Areg Kochinyan, an expert on military-political issues suggested that the European partners are creating this alternative platform in order to create problems for Russia.

“If the West is really interested in stopping certain processes in this region and restoring its geopolitical positions, it will be able to exert sufficient pressure [on Azerbaijan] on at least one issue – for example, the return of Armenian prisoners, since there cannot be an alternative opinion on this issue – they must be returned. If the West is not interested, and this is nothing more than its multi-regional response to the tension in Ukraine, then we will not see this indicator [usefulness] either” he added.

The West wants to turn the issue of corridors in the confrontation between Azerbaijan and Armenia against Russia, says political observer Agshin Kerimov.

“According to Pashinyan, Aliyev’s statement on the Zangezur corridor has nothing to do with the negotiations held so far and the agreements that have been signed.

The West, in turn, is trying to reduce the level of Russia’s influence on the peacekeeping process. But does it have the leverage for the practical fulfilment of this desire?

So far, they are not visible, but there is no need to rush in this matter either. In the coming months, the course of events will show us what conclusions can be drawn from this,” the political observer noted.