Azerbaijan's Absence from Granada Meeting Sparks Controversy

 In a surprising turn of events, Azerbaijan declined participation in a highly anticipated five-way meeting scheduled for today in Granada, Spain, leaving diplomatic circles buzzing with speculation about the reasons behind this decision.

Reports of Azerbaijan's withdrawal from the meeting emerged from Azerbaijani media outlets citing unnamed "private" sources. According to these reports, Azerbaijan had insisted on Turkey's participation in the meeting, a request that was ultimately denied. Additionally, it is suggested that the Azerbaijani side harbored dissatisfaction with France's role as a mediator in the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Officials from Azerbaijan, including the Presidential Administration, have neither confirmed nor denied these reports, leaving room for considerable speculation regarding the motivations behind this decision.

However, Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, weighed in on the matter during a briefing on October 4, stating that Azerbaijan's refusal to engage with representatives of Armenia and the European Union falls within the sovereign right of Baku. The Granada meeting was expected to bring together the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia, representatives from the Council of the European Union, the President of France, and the Chancellor of Germany.

Despite Azerbaijan's absence, the third summit of the European political community is set to proceed in Granada on October 5. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan confirmed his attendance, emphasizing his government's commitment to seeking a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "We were confirming our visit to Granada with high hopes for a constructive and optimistic outcome. Regrettably, it became apparent that the meeting would not take place," he lamented.

Hikmet Babaoglu, a member of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) Central Office, defended Azerbaijan's stance, telling Turan that if the reports were accurate, it was entirely reasonable for Azerbaijan to insist on Turkey's participation, given their strategic alliance. He noted that neither Germany nor France accepted this request, leading Azerbaijan to reconsider its participation.

Babaoglu expressed skepticism about Armenia's readiness for a peace agreement, citing statements from Armenian officials in the lead-up to the meeting. He questioned Armenia's commitment to peace, asserting that Azerbaijan is always ready for such negotiations, but it requires a willing partner on the other side.

However, political commentator Arastun Orujlu suggested that the reasons cited in the media reports may be mere excuses. He pointed out that both France's position and Turkey's absence were known in advance, suggesting that a deeper motive may underlie Azerbaijan's decision. Orujlu, in an interview with Radio Azadlig, speculated that Azerbaijan might be dissatisfied with the European-dominated format of the negotiations, and he also hinted at potential Russian influence on this decision.

Orujlu raised the possibility that Russia did not want Azerbaijan to participate in the Granada meeting, citing Armenia's ratification of cooperation with the International Criminal Court as a recent point of contention between Armenia and Russia. He suggested that Russia may have sent a message to Azerbaijan, discouraging its participation in the meeting.

Adding to this, Orujlu pointed out Russia's seemingly accommodating stance toward Azerbaijan's anti-terrorist operation and the migration of Armenians from the mountainous region of Karabakh. This, he suggested, hinted at a level of understanding between Azerbaijan and Russia on certain issues, with the potential involvement of Turkey in this diplomatic maneuvering.

As the diplomatic chess game unfolds, the stance of French and German officials regarding these speculations remains unclear. Nonetheless, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated his commitment to a negotiated settlement of the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict, emphasizing Berlin's rejection of the use of military force during a phone call with President Aliyev on October 4.