Azerbaijan Urges European Involvement in Peace Talks Amid Accusations of Double Standards

In a recent interview with the Estonian Broadcasting Company ERR, Elchin Amirbeyov, the representative of the president of Azerbaijan on special assignments, urged for a prompt peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, stating that it would benefit Europe. However, this plea comes amidst accusations by Azerbaijani officials that some Western countries support Armenia's revanchist forces, thereby hindering the peace process.

Amirbeyov emphasized that the European Union (EU) is not a unified entity, and individual EU countries' positions impact the achievement of long-term peace in the South Caucasus. Azerbaijan has previously accused Western nations of supporting Armenia by selling weapons and, at times, questioned the need for Western mediation.

While Azerbaijan has expressed readiness for bilateral negotiations with Armenia and resumed meetings on defining borders, concerns persist over European countries allegedly supporting Armenia's position during the decades-long conflict.

Sabir Rustamkhanli, a member of the Milli Majlis Committee on International Relations and Interparliamentary Relations, argued in an interview with Turan  argued that Europe's double standards were evident as some countries supported Armenia while neglecting the rights of over one million Azerbaijani displaced persons.

According to Rustamkhanli, revanchist forces in Armenia, preparing for an imaginary war, impede peace negotiations, and Nikol Pashinyan seeks a peace treaty without succumbing to such pressures. He noted that Europe, the United States, and Russia seek influence in the South Caucasus separately, with Russia preferring the agreement to be resolved under its patronage.

Political commentator Arastun Orujlu, in an interview with Radio Azadlig, suggested that Azerbaijan's recent statement inviting European involvement is not a request for support in the peace process, as Azerbaijan had rejected Western peace initiatives and refused important meetings. He argued that the move aims to create an alternative to Russian mediation, which may lead to Azerbaijan's isolation from the West and increased dependency on Russia.

While Azerbaijan's intentions behind the call for European mediation remain unclear, geopolitical complexities in the South Caucasus continue to shape the dynamics between Azerbaijan, Armenia, and external actors.