Aliyev Needs a Senior Armenian Official to Set Foot in Baku: 'Hraparak'

'Hraparak' reports that governmental sources indicate that Ararat Mirzoyan intends to participate in the COP-29 climate conference in Baku. During a closed meeting with the ruling My Step alliance last Friday, the Foreign Minister stated that he would go to Baku on the condition that Azerbaijan returns Armenian captives. Moreover, the discussion is not about the military-political leadership of Artsakh, but rather about ordinary citizens who have been captured. Nonetheless, the Foreign Minister is inclined to proceed even if they are not returned, emphasizing the need to advocate for the release of captives on that platform.

It is noteworthy that during the meeting between Armenian and Azerbaijani delegations in Kazan, Aliyev previously made a preliminary promise to address this demand. This context also explains why the head of the National Security Service, Armen Abazyan, announced in parliament that a meeting with the Azerbaijani side regarding captives and missing persons is expected soon, although no deadlines were provided.

Aliyev is motivated to take this step because he needs a senior Armenian official to set foot in Baku, which would enable him to undermine the reality that he has conducted ethnic cleansing against Armenians and is issuing threats to Armenia. 'If we have carried out ethnic cleansing and are speaking from a position of power with Armenia, how can a senior Armenian official arrive in Baku?' will be the argument made by Azerbaijani propagandists and authorities.