Farhad Mammadov, head of the South Caucasus Research Center, described the July 10 talks in Abu Dhabi between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan as a milestone — signaling the start of a full-scale, structured interstate dialogue.
“This was no longer just a meeting between heads of state or foreign ministers,” Mammadov told 1news.az. “This was a comprehensive, full-format bilateral dialogue that lasted several hours. During the long pause in high-level contact, both sides developed firm negotiating positions, which were clearly voiced — and, crucially, discussed.”
The talks were described in official statements as “constructive,” suggesting not just the airing of positions, but real progress in negotiations, he said.
Peace Treaty Drafting Reaches Key Stage
A notable development, according to Mammadov, was the potential initialing of the draft peace agreement — a critical diplomatic step. “Once a document is initialed, it cannot be amended. That’s a significant marker in international diplomacy,” he noted.
The framework and principles of the peace agreement were originally proposed by Azerbaijan, and Armenia had previously accepted the wording in its Azerbaijani-drafted form.
Border Delimitation and Transport Corridors Take Center Stage
The two sides also discussed transport connectivity and border demarcation. Vice prime ministers — who lead the technical commissions on borders — attended the meeting, signaling that new rounds of demarcation work are imminent.
Mammadov stressed that the bilateral format was proposed and driven by Azerbaijan, and has proven to be more effective than multilateral approaches. He expressed hope that this model will also prove effective for discussions around transport corridors, particularly linking mainland Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan via Armenian territory.
Trust-Building and a Shift Away from Russian Mediation
Another key theme was confidence-building measures, including regional discussions held with Georgian involvement. Mammadov highlighted that future steps will likely extend beyond the current negotiating tracks, suggesting a broadening of the peace process.
He emphasized the strategic significance of one particular shift: transport issues were discussed bilaterally, without Russia’s involvement. This is the first time the two countries have officially announced that communication reopening is being negotiated exclusively between Baku and Yerevan, without a third-party mediator.
“Dialogue Has Begun — and Will Accelerate”
“In short,” Mammadov concluded, “a true interstate dialogue has now begun between Armenia and Azerbaijan — and I believe the process will move forward at an accelerated pace.”
