Pashinyan and Aliyev Agree on Bilateral Format, Excluding Mediators from the Process

Armenian expert Tatevik Hayrapetyan has commented on the joint statement made by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on her Facebook page.

“The release of 32 Armenian servicemen is certainly good and encouraging news, even when it comes at the cost of releasing murderous Azerbaijani saboteurs. We welcome the safe return of our servicemen. However, there is a dangerous trend; this has been done in a bilateral format, and this marks the beginning of excluding mediators, including Washington and Brussels, from the process. In other words, Pashinyan is taking the first steps away from the previous negotiating logic. Aliyev is also ready for such a 'concession' so that Pashinyan can present it as a success to the public,” Hayrapetyan wrote.

This may go unnoticed at the moment since the news is positive, but the consequences of these bilateral negotiations will be very serious for Armenia. I would gladly like to be wrong,” she added.