Another invitation to peace: Armenia must act decisively for lasting resolution Baku remains open to constructive talks

The negotiation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia has stalled, but significant developments continue to unfold. Notably, Moscow has expressed its willingness to serve as a mediator between the two nations.

According to Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Russia is committed to fostering peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. "As outlined in the document signed by Moscow, we are dedicated to facilitating peace in every possible way. We are ready to continue offering our platform for negotiations between the parties in their preferred bilateral format," Zakharova stated during a weekly briefing.

She emphasized that achieving a balanced agreement between the two allies is crucial for establishing a lasting peace architecture. "This framework should be constructed by the countries of the region themselves, rather than imposed by external actors," Zakharova added. She also noted that the extent and nature of Russia’s assistance should be acceptable to all parties involved.

Zakharova emphasized that Moscow's role is strictly limited to providing a platform for negotiations and will not extend to participating as a mediator. This approach aligns with the tradition seen in Munich and continued in Almaty, where the hosts provided the venue but left the negotiating parties to engage directly after initial greetings. In contrast, Washington has somewhat deviated from this practice. During the recent foreign ministers' meeting in Washington, Secretary of State Blinken stayed through the discussions, reflecting a more assertive approach to reviving the trilateral format. However, this engagement yielded little progress. Although Baku agreed to participate in the Washington meeting, it did not view it as a conducive platform for meaningful negotiations. This scepticism is attributed not only to Washington's departure from the established format but also to the perceived bias of the U.S. Democratic Administration, which has approached Azerbaijan with a confrontational stance.

Moscow appears to be adopting a more flexible and innovative approach compared to Washington, demonstrating to Yerevan and Baku that it is not seeking to impose its will on either side. This approach includes testing Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s willingness to collaborate with Russia under this new framework. Adding to the complexity is the recent joint military exercise conducted with the United States in Armenia, which the Russian Foreign Ministry had expressed concerns about beforehand.

Pashinyan and his administration seem reluctant to engage directly with President Aliyev or visit Moscow, going so far as to avoid a meeting by tactlessly manoeuvring around British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s initiative for bilateral talks in Oxfordshire, held during the European Political Community summit.

In contrast, Baku has consistently shown a willingness for constructive bilateral negotiations on any platform. The Azerbaijani side has expressed a favourable view of Russia's initiative, indicating openness to engaging in the proposed negotiations.

“Azerbaijan has always been prepared for talks with Armenia, whether in Russia or on other platforms,” Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Aykhan Hajizada told TASS, reflecting on Moscow’s offer to facilitate a meeting between the two sides.

It is important to note that following a diplomatic move by Armenia in Britain, Azerbaijan extended a goodwill gesture by inviting the Armenian leadership to Baku in November for the COP29 conference. The Armenian side has indicated that it will consider the invitation in August.

However, the focus should not be solely on the conference invitation but also on the broader and more urgent issue of pursuing peace. The opportunity for such an invitation may not present itself again soon, making it crucial to act decisively and consider the larger implications of reaching a peaceful resolution.