The head of the European Council, Charles Michel, made a statement to the press following the trilateral talks with the heads of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Brussels.

“The discussion was frank and productive. We have considered the whole range of issues. We discussed humanitarian issues in detail, including demining, efforts to free detainees and resolve the fate of the missing,” he said. The parties agreed that the first joint meeting of the border commission will be held in the coming days at the interstate border. During the meeting, all issues related to the delimitation of the border and how best to ensure a stable situation would be considered.

The leaders also agreed on the need to start unblocking transport links. They agreed on principles governing transit between western Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan and between various parts of Armenia through Azerbaijan, as well as international traffic through the communications infrastructure of both countries. 

“In particular, they agreed on the principles of border management, security, payment for land, as well as customs duties in the context of international transport. The vice-premiers will continue this work in the coming days,” the statement said.

Pashinyan and Aliyev agreed to continue discussions on a future peace treaty regulating interstate relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, it is noted that groups led by foreign ministers will continue this process in the coming weeks. "In addition to this, I also stressed to both leaders that the issue of the rights and security of the ethnic Armenian population in [Nagorno]-Karabakh needs to be addressed," the statement said.

Tête-à-tête meeting with Aliyev 

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, who was on a working visit to Brussels, met with President of the European Council Charles Michel on May 22, according to press office of President of Azerbaijan.

At the meeting, President Ilham Aliyev praised Charles Michel's support for the preparation of a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the normalisation of relations between the two countries, the opening of transport corridors, alongside the delimitation and demarcation of borders. President Ilham Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan submitted five principles based on international law to normalise relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and sign a peace agreement, stressing that these principles played a key role in drafting the peace agreement.

The President expressed hope that the process of drafting a peace agreement between the two countries would be accelerated. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev also stressed the importance of clarifying the problem of landmines in the reclaimed territories and the fate of about 4,000 people missing from the First Nagorno-Karabakh War.

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, reiterated the EU's commitment to support the process of normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, said it would continue its mediation efforts, and stressed the importance of previous meetings held in this format. Charles Michel thanked the head of state for attending the meeting in Brussels in this format.

Tête-à-tête meeting with Pashinyan

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who was in Brussels on a working visit, had a private conversation with the President of the European Council Charles Michel, according to the Armenian Prime Minister's press office.

The interlocutors referred to the trilateral meeting of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, the President of the European Council Charles Michel and the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev scheduled for today, attaching importance to the continuation of dialogue.

Nikol Pashinyan presented the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh, and humanitarian issues and stressed the need to solve them.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and Charles Michel exchanged views on the implementation of the agreements reached at the trilateral meetings in Brussels on December 14 last year, as well as on April 6 this year.

Nikol Pashinyan and Charles Michel also discussed issues related to the Armenia-EU bilateral agenda the implementation of the €2.6 billion economic-investment packages announced by the EU for Armenia.

Read also: 

Michel held phone conversations with Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Russian heads of states regarding Nagorno-Karabakh

Comments from Armenia and Azerbaijan on meeting between Aliyev and Pashinyan in Brussels

Results of meeting between Aliyev and Pashinyan in Brussels

Statement of European Council President Charles Michel and French President Emmanuel Macron