Azerbaijan sees real opportunity for peace with Armenia, FM says

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has said there are real prospects for achieving sustainable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but stressed that progress depends on taking concrete steps and Armenia fulfilling its obligations.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Tbilisi with his Georgian counterpart Maka Bochorishvili on July 22, Bayramov said the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalisation process was a key focus of their talks, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

"We provided detailed information on developments in the post-conflict period. The prospects for the peace process are encouraging, but it is important to take concrete steps in this direction. Unfortunately, Armenia has yet to fulfill its commitments," he stated.

The minister highlighted several obstacles to lasting peace, including constitutional clauses in Armenia that question Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, and called for the complete cessation of the OSCE Minsk Group’s activities.

He also noted that the discussions covered a range of regional issues, including border delimitation with Armenia, reconstruction efforts in liberated territories, the return of internally displaced persons, and the ongoing threat posed by landmines.

“We also discussed in detail the process of border delimitation with Armenia, the reconstruction efforts in the territories liberated from occupation, the return of internally displaced persons to their native lands, and the mine threat,” Bayramov said.

On July 10, 2025, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met in Abu Dhabi for a bilateral discussion aimed at advancing the peace process between their countries.

The talks were held without external intermediaries, reflecting a move towards direct dialogue in a neutral setting. The leaders discussed progress on delimiting the 1,000-kilometre shared border, as well as the establishment of the Zangezur corridor, a transport link connecting mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave.

Both sides agreed to begin preparations to initial a peace agreement, moving closer to formalising the draft treaty outlined earlier in the year. While the meeting was constructive, some issues remain unresolved.

Azerbaijan has called on Armenia to amend its constitution to remove territorial claims and to formally renounce the OSCE Minsk Group, which Baku regards as outdated. The United States expressed support for the peace efforts and stability in the region.

By Sabina Mammadli