Aliyev's Assistant Discusses Upcoming Pashinyan-Aliyev Meeting

As reported, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Nikol Pashinyan will meet in Brussels. Azerbaijan's presidential assistant Hikmet Hajiyev indirectly spoke about the upcoming negotiations between Pashinyan and Aliyev in Brussels, stating that Azerbaijan feels quite comfortable with Charles Michel's mission, as the EU does not have a hidden agenda.

In preparation for the meeting, the European side has developed a key framework and structure for the negotiations. The Financial Times reports that the negotiations in Brussels will likely focus on the issue of establishing an Azerbaijani checkpoint at the beginning of the Lachin-Stepanakert road. The parties will also discuss demarcation, prisoner exchanges, and demining issues.

Azerbaijan's presidential assistant Hikmet Hajiyev has denied Armenian claims that the purpose of organizing the checkpoint is to besiege the Armenian residents of Nagorno-Karabakh. "Settling one's own territory is normal for any country," Hajiyev stated, adding that the road is only closed for illegal traffic.