Armenian, Azerbaijani Leaders Begin Peace Talks in Abu Dhabi

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev are set to meet in Abu Dhabi as part of ongoing efforts to finalize a peace agreement following years of conflict over the Karabakh region. Both leaders arrived in the UAE on July 9, with Pashinyan meeting UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan before the bilateral talks scheduled for July 10. The peace process aims to resolve critical issues including border delimitation, security guarantees, and territorial integrity, with Azerbaijan insisting on recognition of its sovereignty and Armenia seeking international legal assurances. Despite a consensus on the peace deal text reached in March, Azerbaijan's additional demands—such as constitutional amendments by Armenia and the dissolution of the Minsk Group—have delayed signing. The meeting follows recent optimism expressed by U.S. officials about a swift resolution, and previous calls by European leaders for both sides to finalize the agreement. The talks represent a critical transitional phase in a complex geopolitical context where Russia, the EU, and the U.S. have played roles in brokering dialogue.