Azerbaijan Categorically Rejects Blinken's Proposal

During the 31st meeting of the OSCE Council of Foreign Ministers held in Malta, there is no scheduled meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Jeyhun Bayramov and Ararat Mirzoyan. Azerbaijani media reports that the meeting did not take place due to Azerbaijan's rejection.

Specifically, they report that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken proposed a meeting between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia within the framework of the OSCE Council. Blinken insisted on mediating that meeting. However, the Azerbaijani side has categorically rejected Blinken's proposal to hold the meeting.

According to Azerbaijani sources, the main reason for not participating in the meeting was that the U.S. is currently not involved in the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. With this initiative, Blinken intended to re-involve the U.S. in the peace process. The reason for Azerbaijan's rejection of participation was that "generally, the Biden administration is pursuing an unjust and biased policy towards Azerbaijan."

“For this reason, Azerbaijan does not wish to see U.S. participation in the peace agenda, finding it inappropriate,” said a diplomatic source.