Michel Invites Pashinyan and Aliyev to Five-Party Meeting: Details

The trilateral meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, European Council President Charles Michel, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has concluded in Brussels, after which Michel made a statement to the press. He described the meeting as "sincere, honest, and meaningful."

Recalling the meetings held since May of this year with mediation from various countries, Michel noted that comprehensive negotiations are ongoing between Armenia and Azerbaijan. "I welcomed the commitment of both leaders to the peace process and encouraged them to take bold steps to ensure decisive and irreversible progress in the resolution process," said the President of the European Council, adding that despite this, tensions continue in the region.

According to Michel, all issues on the agenda were discussed. "The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan once again fully reaffirmed their respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty, regarding the cases of 29,800 square kilometers for Armenia and 86,600 square kilometers for Azerbaijan. Both leaders reiterated their agreement to adopt the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration as the political framework for delimitation," stated the official, adding that the parties agreed to intensify the work of the delimitation commission. He also welcomed the meeting of the commissions on border issues held on July 12.

Michel emphasized that the population of Nagorno-Karabakh needs "reassurances, above all concerning their rights and security. I expressed the EU's support for direct dialogue between Baku and representatives of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast. This dialogue should ensure much-needed trust for all parties involved," the European official added.

He noted that both leaders reiterated their readiness to facilitate the return of individuals detained for inadvertently crossing the border. "I urged both sides to ensure the return of the detained," he noted. Issues regarding missing persons and demining were also addressed. Michel reported that the parties would maintain close contact to ensure the thorough implementation of all discussed and agreed-upon matters. "Progress depends on the steps to be taken in the near future," he remarked.

Michel added that violence and inflammatory rhetoric should cease in order to lay the groundwork for peace and resolution. He invited Pashinyan and Aliyev to visit Brussels after summer, as well as to another five-party meeting within the framework of the next summit of the European community, with the participation of leaders from France and Germany.