Azerbaijani presidential aide engages with Swedish experts on Baku-Yerevan normalisation

Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev has hosted two Swedish analysts at the Swedish embassy in Baku to discuss the normalisation of relations between Baku and Yerevan.

“The Embassy was delighted to host analysts Hugo von Essen and Jakob Hedenskog from the Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies (SCEEUS) in Baku,” Caliber.Az quotes the embassy as saying on its Facebook page.

The embassy stated: “Excellent discussion on the normalisation process and regional issues with the Assistant to the President Hikmet Hadjiyev, as well as a lot of enriching meetings with think tankers and civil society representatives.”

Notably, the long-standing conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia is inching toward resolution, drawing praise from world leaders and international organizations. The recent announcement that both nations have finalized negotiations on a draft peace agreement has been hailed as a historic breakthrough, raising hopes for long-term stability in the South Caucasus.

On March 13, the Armenian Foreign Ministry confirmed that Armenia had accepted Azerbaijan's proposals on the two previously unresolved articles and that the peace agreement is now ready for signing. The ministry noted that it had communicated with Azerbaijan through diplomatic channels to inform them of Armenia’s acceptance of the terms. "The Peace Agreement is ready for signing. The Republic of Armenia is ready to begin consultations with the Republic of Azerbaijan on the dates and place of signing the agreement," it stated.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov also confirmed that both sides had agreed on the terms of the draft peace treaty, further emphasizing Azerbaijan’s readiness to continue dialogue with Armenia on the normalization process.

In addition, Azerbaijan emphasized the need for the formal dissolution of the Minsk Group and its related structures within the OSCE. "Furthermore, we emphasize the necessity to formally abolish the obsolete and dysfunctional Minsk Group and related structures of the OSCE."

Later, Ararat Mirzoyan, Armenia's Foreign Minister, stated that following the signing of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, there will no longer be a need for the mediation format provided by the OSCE Minsk Group.

Mirzoyan emphasized that once the peace agreement is finalized, it will be possible to officially declare the end of the conflict, thereby rendering the mediation efforts of the OSCE unnecessary. "After the signing of the peace treaty, it will be institutionally feasible to conclude that the conflict has come to an end," Mirzoyan said.

By Khagan Isayev