IRIA News

In their first interaction since Azerbaijan took control of the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, representatives from Azerbaijan and Armenia met in Iran for peace talks on October 23, 2023. Russian and Turkish foreign ministers were also present during the meeting.

The meeting in Tehran was aimed at finding a solution to the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict without Western interference. Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said before the meeting that the talks represented a “historic opportunity”. He added that the war in the South Caucasus has ended, and it is time for peace and cooperation.

 Amirabdollahian made implicit references to the United States and Europe for their interference in the region’s affairs. “The presence of outsiders in the region will not only not solve any problems but will also complicate the situation further,” he added.

Nagorno-Karabakh issue is resolved

Russian Foreign Minister declared that the main point of conflict between the two former Soviet Union states has been resolved. “The conflict has, on the whole, been settled. Both sides agree that Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan and that was the main issue to be settled,” a Russian news agency quoted Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying in Tehran.

“Of course, practical steps remain for a full normalization of relations, particularly preparations for a peace treaty, the demarcation of borders, and the establishment of economic transport links without impediment,” he added.

The Nagorno-Karabakh region, also known as Artsakh by Armenia, lies in an area that has a centuries-long history dating back to the times of the Ottoman and Russian empires. The region has always been a Christian stronghold and home to ethnic Armenians.

Azerbaijan claims the region as it falls under its territorial boundaries, while Armenia claims control over it due to the ethnic Armenians who have been living in the region. The two countries have had several armed conflicts on this issue, with the latest one resulting in an evident victory for Azerbaijan.

Russia has played the role of the security guarantor between Azerbaijan and Armenia for a long time. However, since the start of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, its attention on the matter has been diminishing leading the two countries to seek security assistance from the West.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who was also present during the meeting, released a statement on the social media platform stating that Ankara hoped the talks would “give impetus to normalization and peace processes”.

Turkey-Azerbaijan drills

Ahead of the talks, Azerbaijan’s defense ministry said that it had begun joint drills with its ally Turkey near the border with Armenia. The ministry said “up to 3,000” troops would take part in the tactical drills held in the capital Baku, the Nakhichevan exclave between Iran and Armenia, as well as territories retaken from Armenian separatists.

After supporting Armenia for decades, Russia is now taking a neutral approach toward the conflict, resulting in dissatisfaction from Armenia. Western leaders fear that without Russia’s support on its back, Azerbaijan may attack Armenia after its victory in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The concern, as raised by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, is that this may not be the end of Azerbaijan’s regional ambitions as stated by Russia. All eyes are now on the Zangezur corridor, a tract of land running along Armenia’s border with Iran. The danger is that another move by Baku’s forces could inflame a broader conflict in the Southern Caucasus, an area where Turkey, Russia, and Iran all have core strategic interests.

To address Yerevan’s concerns, France has agreed to sell weapons to Armenia, including air defense systems. “Even if we are not part of the same military and political alliances, we assume this defense relationship, which is based on the simple principle that you need to be able to defend yourself and your civilian population,” French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu told his Armenian counterpart Suren Papikyan at a press conference earlier this week.

Georgia’s rejection of the meeting

The talks in Tehran were supposed to be held in a 3+3 format, with Georgia being the sixth member, however, Georgia, which aspires to join the EU and NATO, refused to participate in the peace talks citing its unwillingness to sit at the same table with Russia.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said during the meeting that “the door remains open” for Georgia. The next meeting is planned to take place in Turkey around the first half of next year.