Trilateral Meeting

After a trilateral meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on July 15, President of the Council of the European Union Charles Michel made a statement to the press.

The EU's top official said the exchange of views was once again frank, honest, and meaningful. "Our meeting was the latest in a series of intensive and productive high-level meetings involving the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, deputy prime ministers, and foreign ministers, which have been held since early May in Brussels, Chisinau, Washington, Moscow, and on the bilateral border. We are going through one of the most complete and energetic stages of negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. I commended the leaders for their strong commitment to the peace process and encouraged them to take further bold steps to ensure decisive and irreversible progress toward normalization. And while our meeting took place in the context of an alarming increase in tensions on the ground, I noted an important momentum in political discussions and efforts," Michel said.

"The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan once again fully reaffirmed their respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the other country, based on the fact that the territory of Armenia is 29,800 square meters. km, while the territory of Azerbaijan is 86,600 sq. km," he said.

"Pashinyan and Aliyev reaffirmed their unconditional commitment to the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration as the political basis for border delimitation," the official added. Michel welcomed the meeting of the two border commissions on July 12, noting that the work on the statutes of these commissions and the discussion of the basis of delimitation has advanced. "And it is very important that the leaders agreed to intensify and accelerate the work of the commissions," he stressed.

"Over the past two months, the parties have also made clear progress in discussions aimed at unblocking transport and economic ties in the region. We discussed the terms of future transport agreements that will respect the principles of sovereignty, jurisdiction, and reciprocity. The construction of the railway connection must be undertaken immediately. The EU would be ready to provide a financial contribution. Some details still require clarification, but positions on this topic are now converging, and options are being actively worked out," the organizer of the last trilateral meeting stated.

The parties discussed the situation of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh and the situation around the Lachin corridor. "The current state of affairs is unsustainable. We also discussed possible concrete steps to help normalize the situation. I stressed the need to open the Lachin road. I also noted Azerbaijan's readiness to ensure the supply of humanitarian aid through Aghdam equally. I consider both options important and call for humanitarian supplies from both sides to meet the population's needs. I also welcomed the resumption by the International Committee of the Red Cross of medical evacuation," the President of the EU Council said.

The people on the ground need reassurance, above all, about their rights and security. In this context, Michel expressed the EU's assistance in establishing a direct dialogue between Baku and representatives of the Armenians living in the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region. "This dialogue should provide much-needed trust for all involved," he stressed.

"We equally discussed the issues of the detainees. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the gentleman's understanding that the release of soldiers who inadvertently switch sides would be facilitated. I advocated the release of detainees from both sides," the politician informed.

According to Michel, the parties agreed that the teams would remain in close contact to ensure the concrete development of what was discussed today. "Real progress depends on the next steps to be taken shortly. First of all, violence and harsh rhetoric must be stopped to create the proper environment for peace negotiations and the normalization of relations," he added.

"I also reaffirmed my intention to invite the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to another meeting in Brussels after the summer, as well as to another five-sided meeting with the participation also of the leaders of France and Germany in (Spanish) Granada as part of the next summit of the European Political Community," the President of the Council of the EU concluded.

Bilateral Meetings

On the same day, Ilham Aliyev met with Charles Michel.

Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude for Charles Michel's efforts towards the normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations and emphasized that the negotiations in the Brussels format were effective.

On July 15, Nikol Pashinyan also met with the President of the European Council.

At the request of the [de-facto] President of [the separatist] Nagorno Karabakh, the Prime Minister conveyed his letter to Charles Michel.