Image source: topwar.ru
The peaceful settlement of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia is again "hanging in the air". This time, the reason for the contradictions between the parties was the mediation of France in the negotiation process.
It should be recalled that in early October, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met in Prague with the mediation of French leader Emmanuel Macron and EU Council President Charles Michel. Following the talks, a statement was made that the conflicting parties recognize each other's territorial integrity and are ready to continue discussions on the settlement of disputes that have arisen.
A new round of negotiations was to take place on December 7 in the same format in Brussels. However, apparently, this meeting will not take place.
Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev, during the conference "Along the Middle Corridor: Geopolitics, security and economy", said that he would not go to Brussels and would not participate in the planned meeting.
The reason for the Azerbaijani president's decision was Emmanuel Macron's criticism of Baku immediately after the meeting in Prague, as well as the resolution of the French Senate that followed it, which Aliyev considers "insulting" for his country.
As a result, the Azerbaijani President stressed that Paris, with its biased position, cannot be a mediator in the negotiations between Baku and Yerevan. That is why Aliyev will not go to the meeting in Brussels.
At the same time, Nikol Pashinyan adheres to the opposite position. Earlier, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said that the Prime minister is ready to meet and negotiate with the President of Azerbaijan, but only if the quadrilateral format is preserved, as it was in Prague.
