Negotiations between the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan in Yevlakh may lead to the conclusion of a peace treaty between Baku and Armenia, Azerbaijani Presidential Envoy Elchin Amirbekov said on Thursday following the Yevlakh talks.
In an interview with Sky News Arabia, the official said that the arrangement to reintegrate the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh were discussed during the meeting, adding that Baku believes that this dialogue could have a positive impact on the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Baku has handed over the draft peace agreement to the Armenian side and is waiting for a response, he added.
However, David Babayan, an adviser to the Nagorno-Karabakh leader, said on Thursday that the delegation of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians had not reached a final deal with Baku following the meeting in the city of Yevlakh.
"We have an agreement on the cessation of military action but we await a final agreement - talks are going on," Babayan told Reuters, adding that details need to be hammered out.
On Tuesday, Baku announced the launch of "localised anti-terrorist operations" in Nagorno-Karabakh aimed at "local-level anti-terrorist measures". Yerevan slammed Baku's actions as "aggression against the population of Nagorno-Karabakh" and reiterated that it had no military presence in the disputed region. On Wednesday, the Russian Defence Ministry said that Azerbaijan and representatives of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh had agreed on a full ceasefire thanks to the mediation of Russian peacekeepers.
Moscow Welcomes End of Karabakh Hostilities
Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed Wednesday's agreement to terminate the hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh during a phone call with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
"A phone conversation took place between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the initiative of the Armenian side. The latest developments in the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh were discussed," the Kremlin said in a statement, adding that Putin "welcomed" the agreement to end hostilities.
Yerevan Backs Position of Nagorno-Karabakh's Armenians
Armenia expressed support for the position of Nagorno-Karabakh's Armenian population on a complete ceasefire, when it was announced.
Armenia's deputy foreign minister said that an international mechanism should be created to regulate relations between the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan, the broadcaster reported.