Azerbaijan, Karabakh separatists hold 1st direct peace talks

Azerbaijan and separatists from the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh have held their first direct peace talks as Baku claims full control of the breakaway region following a lightning military operation.

On Thursday, representatives from both sides met for talks in the city of Yevlakh to discuss the future of the mountainous region, which is home to a predominantly Armenian population that has persistently opposed Azerbaijani governance since a separatist war in 1994.

Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as part of Azerbaijan by the international community.

Authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh that have run the region’s affairs without international recognition since fighting erupted in the early 1990s declared on Wednesday that local “self-defense forces” would lay down their arms and disband under a Russia-mediated ceasefire.

The truce halted Azerbaijan’s 24-hour offensive – an artillery barrage and drone attacks against outnumbered and under-supplied pro-Armenian forces - to retake the territory.

The development came after an outbreak of fighting this week in the decades-long separatist conflict.

The office of Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev issued a statement on Thursday, saying that the meeting, focused on reintegration, was constructive.

“The discussions held in a constructive and positive atmosphere focused on reintegration of the Armenian population of Karabakh, restoration of infrastructure and organization of activities on the basis of Constitution and laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan,” said the statement, carried by Azerbaijan’s state news agency (AZERTAC).

It added that the point person for contacts with Armenian residents of Karabakh, Ramin Mammadov, presented reintegration plans. He is also a member of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan

“The sides reached an agreement to hold the next meeting soon,” the statement further said.

MG