European Council president sums up Sunday talks between Armenian and Azerbaijan leaders in Brussels
YEREVAN, May 15. /ARKA/. European Council President Charles Michel presented the results of the talks between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Brussels on Sunday.
Speaking at a press conference in Brussels after hosting a trilateral meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, he described the talks as frank, open and result-oriented, saying they focused on progress toward normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations and the leaders shared a common willingness for peace in the South Caucasus.
"Following the recent positive talks held in the U.S. on the peace treaty, the momentum should be maintained to take decisive steps toward the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement," Michel added.
On border issues, he said, the sides reviewed progress and next steps on border delimitation, and in this context the leaders agreed to resume bilateral meetings on border issues.
"The leaders reaffirmed their unequivocal commitment to the 1991 Almaty Declaration and the respective territorial integrity of Armenia (29,800 square kilometers) and Azerbaijan (86,600 square kilometers). The final delimitation of the border will be agreed through negotiations," Michel said.
He said the sides have made clear progress in discussions aimed at unblocking transport and economic ties in the region.
"The positions on this topic are now very close to each other, particularly with regard to the resumption of rail traffic to and through Nakhichevan. The respective groups have been instructed to agree in principle on the conditions for reopening the railroad connection and the necessary construction work along with a specific timetable. They also agreed to seek the support of the World Customs Organization for this work," he said.
He noted that regarding humanitarian issues, there was also an understanding that the detainees would be released in the coming weeks.
"I also stressed the need to maintain the understanding that soldiers who have simply strayed and crossed into foreign territory will continue to be released in an expedited manner. We also discussed the importance of intensifying work on the fate of the missing and on mine clearance," Michel said.
He said the negotiators continued to exchange views on the rights and security of Armenians living in Karabakh.
"I called on Azerbaijan to develop a positive agenda to ensure the rights and security of this population in close cooperation with the international community. I also raised the need for a transparent and constructive dialogue between Baku and this population," Michel said.
He called for refraining from hostile rhetoric, and acting in good faith and showing leadership to reach mutually acceptable solutions.
He said that the sides have agreed to meet in Brussels as often as necessary, and the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet again in Brussels in July.
"In the very near future we will meet again together with French President Macron and German Chancellor Scholz on the margins of the 2nd summit of the European Political Community (EPC) in Chisinau. I also intend to invite the leaders to another such meeting on the margins of the 3rd EPC summit in Granada in October," Michel said. -0-
