Will the meeting between official Baku and representatives of Karabakh Armenians take place in Bulgaria?

Lilit Nahapetian
  • JAMnews
  • Baku

“A potential meeting between Baku and representatives of Khankendi is being organized in a European country, possibly in Bulgaria.” This was announced by the historian Arif Yunusov, who lives in the Netherlands. Commenting on this information, political observer Haji Namazov said: “It is clear that Azerbaijan will not enter into negotiations with the separatist regime with the participation of international mediators without acceptable conditions.”

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Political historian Arif Yunusov told Turan that a meeting between representatives of Baku and Khankendi (Stepanakert) could take place in Bulgaria. According to Yunusov’s sources in European organizations, American mediators play a significant, though less well-known role in the Karabakh process, pushing for a meeting on neutral ground. While the Azerbaijani side is reportedly dissatisfied with the prospect of the meeting, it is difficult for them to openly refuse the participation of American mediators.

“The United States used various levers to put pressure on Baku and even proposed the idea of building a road through Aghdam. It is noteworthy that they called on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to comply with Baku’s demands. However, the success of the meeting remains uncertain due to potential stumbling blocks,” he says.

Yunusov points out that the Armenians now have a convenient excuse to avoid negotiations with Baku. “The recent arrest of Vagif Khachatryan in Lachin has complicated the situation, as he has close ties to Samvel Babayan, who is considered by Azerbaijani media to support a peaceful settlement of the conflict with Baku. Khachatryan’s previous support for Babayan complicates matters.

At the Lachin checkpoint of Azerbaijan, a resident of the unrecognized NKR was detained, who was transported to Armenia by the Red Cross to receive urgent medical care

Chairman of the United Motherland Party (Khankendi) Samvel Babayan publicly announced the acceptance of the consequences of the defeat in the 2020 war. However, during the first Karabakh war of 1991-1994, he led the illegal armed formations of Karabakh Armenians, who, together with the Armed Forces of Armenia, participated in actions that led to the destruction of Azerbaijani settlements, violence and ethnic cleansing.”

“The meeting between representatives of Baku and Khankendi was supposed to be held on August 1 in Bratislava. At least such a meeting was lobbied by Western circles.” However, the Turan agency notes that, as it became known to them from informed sources, the Azerbaijani authorities refused to meet with representatives of Khankendi.

Earlier, Baku invited representatives of Karabakh Armenians for a dialogue on reintegration in the Azerbaijani capital twice. But the Armenians ignored these invitations, after which President Ilham Aliyev stated that “they will no longer be invited to negotiations, and they must disband the separatist structures and obey the laws of Azerbaijan. Only in this case, they can count on an amnesty.”

At a meeting with the residents of Lachin, the President of Azerbaijan talked about his vision of solving the problem of the Armenian population of Karabakh

From other sources it became known today that Baku offered the Karabakh Armenians negotiations in the Azerbaijani city of Yevlakh, but Khankendi refused this proposal.

“Information about supposedly upcoming negotiations between official Baku and Khankendi in Bulgaria appeared in previous days in Armenian sources. So far, no one has announced this in Azerbaijan,” political observer Haji Namazov commented on the news for JAMnews.

According to him, perhaps the last conversation between Antony Blinken and Ilham Aliyev last weekend was devoted to this topic:

“It is clear that without acceptable conditions, Azerbaijan will not enter into negotiations with the separatist regime with the participation of international mediators. And the message about the construction of a road linking Agdam with Khankendi fits into this scenario quite well.

What can be negotiated? It is clear that the connection between Khankendi and Armenia is clearly interrupted – from now on, all transportation will be carried out through the territory of Azerbaijan, not from Armenia. What will the Karabakh Armenians demand in return? It is still difficult to judge this.

The President of Azerbaijan called the disarmament of the Armenian military formations in Karabakh one of the conditions for resolving the situation

The Armenian population of Karabakh has always had a maximalist approach to issues, but it is clear that Baku will not comply with them. But they can offer the Karabakh Armenians some kind of autonomous system of self-government – the organization of municipalities, for example.”

Namazov added that US mediation in this matter plays into the hands of official Baku:

“The State Department, as you know, welcomed Aliyev’s statement about a possible amnesty for the leadership of the separatist regime. In other words, the States accept the part of Karabakh, where the Armenian population lives, as an integral part of Azerbaijan, and it is normal for Baku to ensure its sovereignty over this part of the country.”

https://jam-news.net/will-the-meeting-between-official-baku-and-representatives-of-karabakh-armenians-take-place-in-bulgaria/

Armenian Airlines linked to Russia’s Pegas Turistik – report

Boshkezenian Garik
Aug 1 2023

Armenian investigative website Hetq claims it has evidence Armenian Airlines (JI, Yerevan) has ties to Russian tour operator Pegas Turistik, which also controls Nordwind Airlines, Ikar (Russian Federation), and Southwind Airlines.

The Armenian start-up was founded by Ararat Sargsyan, who, until January 2023, was also the company’s sole shareholder. Sargsyan also owns Alliance Air (Armenia), a company founded in 2014 which never began operations as an airline but remains the GSA of Nordwind Airlines in Armenia.

Sargsyan is said to have sold off a total 90% stake to Mikhail Asriyan (19%), the founder of Pegas Turistik’s Armenian affiliate Arion Tour, Bulgarian citizen Rosen Boyanov (24%), who owns the Ukrainian travel agency PGS Travel and who used to be the marketing director of Pegas Turistik, and Swiss citizen Oz Yakupkhanogullarindan, a member of the Board of Directors of Pegas Turistik, with a 25% stake.

Hermine Hovhannisyan, an Armenian citizen without direct links to Pegas Turistik, owns the remaining 22% stake. Thus, Armenian Airlines remains 51%-owned by citizens of Armenia, meeting the requisite control and ownership threshold.

The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows that Armenian Airlines currently operates two A321-200s. One of them, EK-AAB (msn 3106) on lease from Thunderbolt Aircraft Lease, was transferred from Nordwind Airlines.

Armenian Airlines did not respond to ch-aviation’s request for comment.

Pegas Turistik was recently sanctioned by the US Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) for violating a US embargo on Nordwind Airlines, although it was then taken off the sanctions list for procedural reasons.

WHO and EU launch Health Literacy Corner to improve health education in Armenia

Ara Felekian
Aug 1 2023
1 August 2023 

News release

 

Reading time: 1 min (398 words)

WHO in Armenia has launched the first Health Literacy Corner in Yerevan, with financial support from the European Union (EU) and in coordination with the Yerevan Municipality. The Health Literacy Corner is located at the city’s No. 55 school and will serve as a resource centre, providing a wide range of WHO materials and tools to enhance children’s knowledge about health-related topics. More than 1300 students will benefit from the centre, and plans are underway to establish more health literacy centres in Yerevan, in line with the Healthy City initiative that promotes health awareness and education.

Commenting on the initiative, the Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador, H.E. Mrs Andrea Wiktorin, said, “In cooperation with WHO, the EU is supporting multilevel health education in Armenia, providing a variety of capacity-building opportunities for young people. Empowering them to act on health matters and become agents of change is crucial for a positive impact both on people’s lives and on communities”.

From informative brochures to Immune Patrol, an interactive game-based learning platform, the resource centre is designed to foster understanding and encourage healthy lifestyles. It also serves as a training hub for educators, and WHO will continue to enhance their skills and expertise, particularly in the field of infection prevention behaviour. Additionally, the Health Literacy Corner has been equipped with laptops to ensure continuous and seamless education, both in person and via distance learning. This will enable educators to be better prepared and effectively disseminate accurate health information to parents and students.

Dr Marthe Everard, Special Representative of the WHO Regional Director to Armenia, said, “All students and educators should have access to quality health information. We hope that the health literacy corners will contribute to the country’s efforts, providing access to information on health and well-being, including immunization.”

The initiative is part of an EU-funded project titled “Vaccination saves lives: supporting the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines and strengthening routine vaccination systems in the Eastern Partnership”. Within the framework of the project, WHO Armenia has been partnering with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports in building health literacy and awareness related to vaccine-preventable diseases among school principals, teachers and students in Armenia. Since 2021, WHO has provided training for over 2000 teachers across the country and piloted an online module on the immune system and immunization in several primary schools.


https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/01-08-2023-who-and-eu-launch-health-literacy-corner-to-improve-health-education-in-armenia

Enterprise Armenia launches new website with EBRD and EU support

Garnik Tadevosian
Aug 1 2023

A new website for Enterprise Armenia (EA) has been launched, aiming to promote and attract new foreign direct investments to Armenia. The website was funded by the European Union and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) through the Investment Climate Review Action Plan (ICAP) phase I.

Enterprise Armenia serves as Armenia’s national Investment Promotion Agency, directly reporting to the Prime Minister, and is an integral part of the Investment Support Centre, which is responsible for export promotion. EA’s primary focus lies in providing comprehensive services to both existing and potential foreign investors. These encompass furnishing vital information on Armenia’s business climate, investment opportunities, and relevant legislation and regulations.

The updated platform offers a smoother interface, enhancing user-friendliness for investors, partners, and entrepreneurs to effortlessly locate the information they seek. Visitors can browse the website based on their preferences, gain access to sector-specific details, learn about services, explore investment prospects, and even download publications. Investors can use the platform to connect with government officials, industry experts, local businesses, and professional service providers to identify the best investment opportunities in Armenia. 

Serving as a gateway for foreign investors to access comprehensive and current information regarding Armenia’s investment climate and opportunities, the website offers insights into key sectors with growth potential, as well as the state’s guarantees and incentives for investors. 

The new website also showcases an interactive investment map of Armenia, allowing users to see what sectors thrive in each region and therefore, make informed business decisions. 

Armenia’s strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia has garnered significant interest in its thriving economy. The nation has successfully established itself as one of the globe’s fastest-growing economies, boasting an impressive 12.6% GDP growth rate in 2022. According to the World Bank, since 2020 foreign direct investment in Armenia has increased from more than €52 million to about €908 million last year. This growth is indicative of the country’s attractiveness to international investors, and the well-designed, operational website plays a crucial role in promoting and supporting the positive trend. 

The EU-EBRD Country-specific Investment Climate Reviews and Action Plans for Eastern Partnership (EaP) Countries is a regional project for EaP countries, aiming to aid their transition process and foster the establishment of sustainable and fair economic growth models. 

Find out more

Enterprise Armenia website

https://euneighbourseast.eu/news/latest-news/enterprise-armenia-launches-new-website-with-ebrd-and-eu-support/

Armenia: EU supports new public transport system in Ashtarak community

Vorskanian Yeghisabet
Aug 1 2023

With support from the EU, a new public transport system will be implemented in Ashtarak community in Armenia, within the framework of the Mayor’s for the Economic Growth (M4EG) Programme.

Thanks to this project, public transport reforms will provide comfortable transportation for residents in all settlements in the community. The plan includes acquiring 11 minibuses and constructing at least one bus stop in each village, totaling 35 bus stops.

The new public transport system will incorporate innovative features such as smart bus stops.

“Ashtarak community has the possibility to install smart bus stops, which will be equipped with such amenities as air conditioning, heating, Wi-Fi, and GPS systems. This will allow users to see the location of the route, the schedule, and the waiting time. The stop will also be accessible to people with disabilities. It will be possible to charge devices at the bus stop as well,” says Ishkhan Barseghyan, head of the Development Programmes and Tourism Department at Ashtarak Municipality.

The introduction of the new public transport system will benefit vulnerable families in the community by providing them with the opportunity to use public transport. The new transport service will cover all settlements in the community, and special rates will be available for vulnerable groups who are regular commuters.

The Mayors for Economic Growth Programme, launched in collaboration with the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme in Armenia, will operate until 2024. It encourages local governments in Eastern Partnership countries to adopt innovative development methods that will ensure fairness and have a positive impact on the environment. The Ashtarak community joined the programme in 2019.

Find out more

Press release

https://euneighbourseast.eu/news/latest-news/armenia-eu-supports-new-public-transport-system-in-ashtarak-community/

Time is running out for Nagorno-Karabakh

Adrine Hakobian
Aug 1 2023

Marek Grzegorczyk

After months of blockading the Lachin Corridor, Azerbaijan’s aim has become clear: Baku wants to reconfigure supply lines to Karabakh through Azerbaijan proper to accelerate Karabakh’s integration. Increasingly, it has international support to do so.  

The blockade of the Lachin Corridor—the only road connecting Azerbaijan’s breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia—that began in December 2022 has brought a renewed urgency to peace talks between Yerevan and Baku.  

Populated primarily by Armenians, Nagorno-Karabakh is nevertheless internationally-recognised as territory of Azerbaijan. 

The blockade, begun by self-styled Azeri “ecological protesters” was formalised by a checkpoint operated by Azerbaijan this spring. Since July 11 it has even been closed to International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) vehicles, after Baku accused ICRC vans of smuggling contraband from Armenia into Karabakh.  

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The impact of the blockade on the region has been devastating, according to the ICRC. “Tens of thousands of people rely on humanitarian aid reaching them through these routes,” the organisation said in a statement on July 25.  

“The civilian population is now facing a lack of life-saving medication and essentials like hygiene products and baby formula. Fruits, vegetables, and bread are increasingly scarce and costly, while some other food items such as dairy products, sunflower oil, cereal, fish, and chicken are not available. The last time the ICRC was allowed to bring medical items and essential food items into the area was several weeks ago.” 

Azerbaijani officials, however, reject the assertion that there is any blockade on Nagorno-Karabakh, pointing to their openness to alternative supply routes running to the breakaway state’s capital of Stepanakert (Khankendi in Azerbaijani) via the Baku-controlled city of Aghdam.  

The Azerbaijani ambassador to Germany tweeted drone footage of that “beautiful road”, declaring it “open for the delivery of all goods for our Armenian residents living in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.” 

The official Azerbaijani readout of a call between Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on July 29 notes, “President Aliyev stated that although the Azerbaijani side put forward a proposal to use the ‘Aghdam-Khankendi’ road to meet the needs of the Armenian residents, which was supported by the European Union and the ICRC, Armenia opposed all proposals. The Armenian side’s claim about the ‘humanitarian situation’ and ‘blockade’ is a political manipulation.” 

As supplies of basic goods dwindle, authorities in Stepanakert fear that a switch in humanitarian supply lines from the Lachin Corridor to the Aghdam route could spell the end for their de facto autonomy.  

The Lachin Corridor is, at least in theory, guarded by Russian peacekeepers under the terms of the ceasefire that ended the Second Karabakh War in 2020 and allows for people and goods to travel to and from Armenia. The Aghdam route would not connect to Armenia and would be under the full control of Azerbaijan, leaving Karabakh Armenians fully dependent on Baku even as they pursue a dialogue to negotiate their future. 

The International Court of Justice ruled in February that Azerbaijan must keep the Lachin Corridor open, and the Armenian diaspora—especially in the United States and France—has kept the fate of Karabakh Armenians as an international cause célèbre. Yerevan and Baku are pursuing their own talks but through two uncoordinated tracks: one mediated by Washington and Brussels and the other by Moscow. As both the West and Russia struggle to maintain the favour of Armenia and gas-rich Azerbaijan alike, Stepanakert authorities are betting that their international allies can convince Baku to re-open the Lachin Corridor before supplies completely run out. 

As European Council president Charles Michel welcomed Baku’s proposal to open the Aghdam supply route at a July 15 meeting with the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders in Brussels—though he noted the Aghdam road ought to be a complement, not replacement, to the Lachin Corridor—reports indicated Azerbaijan increasingly favoured the Western-led track of talks and was souring on Moscow’s. 

“We took note of the expressed readiness of the Azerbaijani authorities to also supply goods via the city of Aghdam,” said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on July 26, repeating Michel’s stance. “This should not be seen as an alternative to the reopening of the Lachin corridor.” 

Russia, once viewed by Karabakh Armenians as their staunchest defender, took notice of Baku’s shifting favour. The same day as Michel’s comments, Moscow released a statement noting that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s May remarks reflecting Armenia’s willingness to recognise Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan “radically changed the fundamental conditions” of the 2020 ceasefire and that “under these [new] conditions, responsibility for the fate of the Armenian population of Karabakh should not be shifted to third countries.” 

Then, after a trilateral meeting of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov with his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts on July 25, Lavrov again suggested Karabakh Armenians must accept Azerbaijani sovereignty. 

“There are many important and complicated issues to be addressed,” said Lavrov. “The most sensitive of them has been and remains the issue of rights and safety guarantees for Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh in the context of ensuring the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.” 

While Russia has utilised other frozen conflicts and breakaway states in emerging Europe to make it more difficult for Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine to pursue EU and NATO membership, neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan seem likely to seek EU or NATO membership anytime soon.  

It is in Russia’s strategic interests to improve relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which means settling the Karabakh dispute. 

Armenia is a member of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), so Russia has a treaty obligation to defend Armenia from attack. However, after Azerbaijani attacks on the territory of Armenia-proper in September 2022, the CSTO declined to come to its defence—largely because Russian forces are already stretched thin in Ukraine and the Central Asian members of the CSTO are too close to Azerbaijan to support intervening against it.  

Russia has also sought closer relations with Azerbaijan—especially on energy issues—and there are allegations that Russian fossil fields are laundered through Azerbaijan to avoid Western sanctions. Moscow also wants to prevent Azerbaijan from becoming even closer to Turkey, a NATO member. 

Turkey has consistently supported Azerbaijan on all matters related to Karabakh. “The Lachin road is the territory of Azerbaijan,” said Turkey’s new foreign minister Hakan Fidan on July 31. “Baku is free to make any decision it considers necessary. This is Azerbaijan’s sovereign right.” 

The EU and US are home to large Armenian diasporas that are very active in their domestic politics, but both are interested in Azerbaijan’s energy resources and location along the Middle Corridor to facilitate Eurasian trade that avoids Russia. The US also welcomes Azerbaijan’s hostility towards its nemesis, Iran, and alliance with its ally Israel. Neither the EU nor US, however, is interested in committing the troops to the region necessary to replace Russian peacekeepers. 

This leaves Russia, the EU, and US aligned on the need for peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan but racing to secure a diplomatic settlement. For residents of Stepanakert meanwhile, time is running out.


The road less travelled: Euronews visits the Lachin Corridor from Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh

Torgomian Varazdat
Aug 1 2023
By Anelise Borges  •  Updated: 01/08/2023 – 13:09

Euronews investigates recent claims and counter-claims of aid blockades and gun running in the south Caucasus.

A small mountain road is at the heart of a simmering international dispute in the south Caucasus.

Azerbaijan claims it is used by Armenians to smuggle weapons and precious minerals. Armenia’s contention is that it is a vital supply route for humanitarian aid convoys that Azerbaijan is blocking at a customs post it opened in April 2023.

The so-called Lachin corridor is the only route from Armenia to the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought two wars over the territory since the Soviet era, with an armistice brokered by Russia ending the most recent conflict in 2020.

Euronews’ international correspondent Anelise Borges visited the Lachin corridor and spoke to people living on both sides of the mountain track.

Watch her report in the video player at the link below.

https://www.euronews.com/2023/08/01/the-road-less-travelled-euronews-visits-the-lachin-corridor-from-armenia-to-nagorno-karaba

Nagorno-Karabakh: Azerbaijan rebuilds homes in Lachin area

Emma Jilavian
Aug 1 2023
By Anelise Borges  with wires  •  Updated: 01/08/2023 – 17:24

In western Azerbaijan, the city of Lachin feels like a vast construction site. Everywhere you look, efforts to erase the scars of the last all-out war between Armenia and Azerbaijan are evident.

In 2020, Azerbaijan regained most of that surrounding territory and pieces of Nagorno-Karabakh itself in a war which killed about 6,800 soldiers. 

Under a Russia-brokered armistice, transit along the Lachin Corridor was to continue under the guarantee of Russian peacekeepers.

According to Armenian media, trucks and foreign diplomats are currently in the village of Kornidzor on Armenia’s border with Nagorno-Karabakh, which is at one end of the Lachin Corridor.

Euronews’ international correspondent Anelise Borges spoke to people who are returning to the city, some for the first time since the first war from 1988-1994. 

Watch her report in the video player at the link below.

https://www.euronews.com/2023/08/01/nagorno-karabakh-azeri-forces-rebuild-homes-in-disputed-city-of-lachin

European companies’ aircraft endangered by interference from pro-Russian Karabakh enclave

Yeghisabet Arthur
Bulgaria – Aug 1 2023
Nikolay Marchenko 

A Czech Airlines aircraft, on a flight on the Budapest-Baku route, was on the verge of crashing due to radio interference when the aircraft was above the area where the Russian military contingent is stationed in the Karabakh enclave, newsweek.ro reports.

On July 25, the actions of the pro-Russian leadership of the Armenian separatist enclave of Karabakh caused a dangerous incident, which could lead to the downing of a European aircraft.

Fortunately, the pilots could land safely, saving the passengers from catastrophe.

Aircraft of some European companies have been endangered by interference from the pro-Russian Karabakh enclave.

Interference was registered in the following cases:

The ATR-45 passenger aircraft of Azerbaijan Airlines flying on the Baku-Fuzuli route on July 24.

Passenger aircraft C-680 of the Czech Airlines company, which flew on the Budapest-Baku route on July 25.

ATR-45 passenger aircraft of Azerbaijan Airlines, which flew on the Baku-Gabala route and in the opposite direction on July 27.

Previously, as a result of the use of radio interference against the Gulfstream G280 passenger aircraft of Azerbaijan Airlines flying on the Zangilan-Fuzuli route from 11.54am to 12.07pm (GMT+4) and on the Fuzuli-Baku route from 1.02pm to 1.17pm (GMT+4) on July 13, the aircraft’s GPS navigation system failed.

The command of the Russian maintenance forces was asked for explanations regarding these facts and the same incidents that occurred previously. To date, Russian peacekeeping forces have not taken any action against these provocations, which pose a serious threat to the security of flights transiting Azerbaijan’s airspace, according to Trend News Agency.

According to the Defence Ministry, this is not the only case: Armenian separatists regularly use radio jamming against passenger aircraft flying over Azerbaijan’s airspace.

Threats to the safety of European airlines are unacceptable, especially considering that the Czech Republic is not the only country with direct flights to Azerbaijan.

Which other companies could be affected?

The list of potential victims of the Armenian-Russian conspiracy also includes airlines from Hungary, the United States, Canada, Poland, Latvia, Germany, Turkey, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

When the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan ended in autumn 2020, Russian troops were stationed in Karabakh, on the territory of the separatist Armenian enclave of Artsakh. To maintain its positions and influence in the South Caucasus, which are necessary to carry out such challenges, the Kremlin prevents the conclusion of peace between Baku and Yerevan.

On July 28, CNN Prima, CNN’s Czech partner, noted: “Putin aims to freeze the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan according to the scenario that Russia initiated before the aggression in Donbas, South Ossetia or Moldovan Transnistria.”

The Bulgarian publication Fakti also pointed out that this seems the only way for Russia to maintain its position and military presence in the region.

Given the Russian Federation’s destructive role in the region and concerns about airline safety, the influential American publication The Hill called in January 2023 for Washington and its NATO and EU allies to mobilize international support to replace Russian troops of Karabakh and to help conclude a lasting peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.


https://sofiaglobe.com/2023/08/01/european-companies-aircraft-endangered-by-interference-from-pro-russian-karabakh-enclave/

The leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia talk about the prospects for peace in the Caucasus region

Christine Harutyunian
Aug 1 2023

In this latest episode of the Global Conversation, Euronews speaks with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan

Nagorno-Karabakh has been the stage of some of the most violent episodes in the south Caucasus’ recent history. Despite a ceasefire deal brokered by Russia in 2020, tensions are far from over.

The United States and the European Union have been playing a bigger role in mediating the crisis – since the vacuum left by Russia (a more traditional regional power broker, now bogged down in Ukraine). And the talks have been filling people with hope of lasting peace.

But the latest developments surrounding disagreements over the Lachin Corridor and claims that Azerbaijan is blocking the only passageway connecting Armenia to Armenians inside Nagorno-Karabakh, seem to indicate the road to peace will be a long one.

We negotiated for months to be able to sit down with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan – involved in one of the longest-lasting conflicts in the world.

Euronews asked the same questions to both Azarbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan – and offered them a chance to express their points of view without interruption or contest.

Prime Minister Pashinyan said “not only there can, but there must be peace,” while President Aliyev said “I think it is right to be hopeful.” 

The idea was to give both sides a platform to express their views about the conflict and about the chances for peace.

Watch the full Global Conversation video, hosted by Euronews’ international correspondent Anelise Borges in the player at the link below:

https://www.euronews.com/2023/08/01/the-leaders-of-azerbaijan-and-armenia-talk-about-the-prospects-for-peace-in-the-caucasus-r