Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Monday expressed gratitude for the EU’s role in facilitating peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
According to a statement from the Azerbaijani presidency, Aliyev met with EU Council President Charles Michel in Baku, where he praised the EU’s mediation efforts in structuring the ongoing discussions with Armenia. Michel was credited with helping shape the framework and agenda of the peace talks between the neighboring nations.
During their meeting, Michel expressed optimism about impactful climate decisions emerging from the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29), currently taking place in Baku. He emphasized that climate change is a priority on the EU’s agenda, and the leaders discussed ways to further develop EU-Azerbaijan relations.
Michel also posted on X, congratulating Aliyev on hosting COP29 and reaffirming the EU’s dedication to climate goals and financial support. He highlighted that their discussions covered various aspects of bilateral relations, including the peace process with Armenia.
“The EU remains committed to supporting efforts for a stable, peaceful, and prosperous Caucasus,” Michel stated.
Earlier on Monday, Aliyev held talks with several leaders attending COP29, including the leaders of Finland, Iraq, Mongolia, Slovakia, Serbia, Belgium, and Georgia.
The Armenia-Azerbaijan relationship has been strained since 1991, when Armenia’s military occupied Karabakh and surrounding areas, which are internationally recognized as Azerbaijani territory. Most of these areas were retaken by Azerbaijan in the 2020 conflict, which concluded with a Russian-brokered peace deal initiating ongoing normalization efforts. In September 2023, Azerbaijan reasserted full control over Karabakh after a brief “anti-terrorist operation” led to the surrender of separatist forces in the region.
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