Top EU official expresses concern over escalation between Azerbaijan, Armenia

Following up on previous meetings with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, European Council President Charles Michel raised various topics all three discussed at a trilateral gathering in Brussels in December, a statement by the council said.

Michel reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to helping the parties reach a long-awaited normalization and sustainable peace, it added.

Michel also called on the leaders to seek compromise solutions and refrain from any actions that could risk escalation in the South Caucasus.

Aliyev on Thursday said Armenia must negotiate in good faith and respect Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

His comments came in response to Pashinyan saying on Twitter that a peace treaty between the two can be reached.