Azerbaijani experts are confident of Baku's unchanged position in talks with Yerevan

Baku/30.06.23/Turan: Another round of Azerbaijani-Armenian talks in the U.S. has ended and Washington called it "constructive".

However, experts in Baku do not share this optimism.

Head of the Caucasus Political Scientists Club Ilgar Velizadeh wrote on his Facebook page that there were no breakthrough decisions, although "additional progress" was announced.

It is expected that at the forthcoming meeting of the heads of states in Brussels, with European mediation, (scheduled for 21 July), the sides' positions on the contentious issues will be adjusted so as not to create an obstacle to the advancement of the negotiating dynamic, he said.

"Pashinyan does not benefit from delaying the resolution of principal issues. He needs to solve everything in one go. His popularity is falling, people are irritated by this uncertainty, everything is essentially clear. Why drag it out? By signing the peace agreement, Pashinyan could draw a line under the agitation against him, which President Macron has now joined as well," Velizadeh noted.

Former Foreign Minister Tofik Zulfugarov noted that the US was paying close attention to the Azerbaijani-Armenian negotiations with a desire for a positive outcome. It is clear that the Armenian side wants the opening of the Lachin road as it understands it, and international guarantees for the rights of the Karabakh Armenians, the diplomat continued.

Baku's response is known - Azerbaijan demands the withdrawal of occupying Armenian armed forces from Karabakh, which the Armenian side is trying to present as "Karabakh self defence forces". Armenia is also evading its commitments on the Zangezur corridor. Another fundamental problem between the parties is the definition of the future border between the two states, Zulfugarov continued.

"Everyone understands that despite pro-Armenian hearings in the US Congress and other such events, Azerbaijan's position will not change," Zulfugarov said.

Natik Jafarli, a member of the political committee of the Republican Alternative Party, believes the Armenian side is to blame for unsuccessful negotiations.

"The US sees this, and is reacting by punishing Armenian companies for cooperating with Russian businesses. If Armenians oppose peace in the region, they will get even heavier pressure," says Jafarli.

Baku's position is that it intends to integrate the Karabakh Armenians into the Azerbaijani state. "Guarantees for their security can be discussed," Jafarli noted.

He said his Party had appealed to the Azerbaijani government with a proposal to present a roadmap of measures for the reintegration of the Karabakh Armenians to remove "unfair pressure" on Baku from some international structures. -06В-