What Drives the Resumption of Unblocking Negotiations Amidst Azerbaijani Occupation?

According to the official website of the Russian government, Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk, and Artsakh Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafaev have resumed the work of the trilateral working group. This was reported by Tigran Abrahamyan, a member of the "I Have Honor" faction, on his Facebook page.

"During the meeting held in Moscow on August 17, the parties discussed the prospects for restoring transport communications in the South Caucasus region. They also addressed the ongoing work under the January 11, 2021 statement of the Prime Minister of Armenia, the President of Artsakh, and the President of Russia," the statement says.

If I'm not mistaken, the last time a meeting in this format took place was in April, and after the Azerbaijani intrusion in Syunik and Gegharkunik on May 12, the series of meetings was suspended.

So, what could explain the resumption of negotiations around regional unblocking against the backdrop of Azerbaijani occupation and recent provocations leading to fatalities along various sections of the border?

Does this imply that Armenia has approved the agenda put forward by Azerbaijan and, by tolerating Azerbaijan's presence in Armenia's sovereign territory, the authorities are aligning with the logic of Azerbaijani claims?

The issues of opening communications, demarcating borders, and the realization of the right to self-determination for Artsakh along with its international recognition should be packaged together. By excluding the issue of Artsakh from the current negotiation agenda, this government signals that it is moving forward based on conditions imposed by Azerbaijan, which only represent Azerbaijan's state interests.