By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Azemedia new logo
  • Home
  • COP29
  • Opinion
  • News
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Climate and Ecology
  • Culture
  • Diaspora
  • Interview
  • Science
  • Logistics-Transport
  • Gender
  • History
  • Defense
  • Karabakh
Aze.MediaAze.Media
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • News
  • Economy
  • Climate and Ecology
  • Energy
  • Opinion
  • Culture
  • Gender
  • Interview
  • Science
  • Logistics-Transport
  • History
  • Defense
  • Karabakh
  • Diaspora
  • Who we are
Follow US
© 2021 Aze.Media – Daily Digest
Aze.Media > Opinion > What did Philip Reeker come to the region with?
Opinion

What did Philip Reeker come to the region with?

AzeMedia
By AzeMedia Published September 10, 2022 8 Min Read 956 Views
Gettyimages 172838331
Philip Reeker

Philip Reeker, Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations at the United States Department of State, visited Yerevan. This happened almost immediately after Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok on the sidelines of the 7th Eastern Economic Forum, the visit of Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan to the United States and, most importantly, the dramatic aggravation of the situation at the conditional Armenian-Azerbaijani state border. Just the day before, as a show of goodwill and humanity, official Baku commuted the sentence for another group of convicted Armenian saboteurs and handed them over to Armenia, which, however, was not appreciated in Yerevan but was taken for granted.

This whole series of talks and events takes place in the first ten days after the last trilateral meeting of the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and the European Council in Brussels, where, as we know, the parameters and terms of the peace treaty were discussed and some deadlines were set. Foreign ministry officials from the two countries are expected to meet by the end of the month to discuss for the first time, if not the text of the treaty, then at least its framework and maybe even a draft version. Another meeting of the border delimitation commission will also be held in Brussels. As you may recall, the first two meetings of the delimitation commission were held at the border itself and then in Moscow.

Nikol Pashinyan described the latest round of the Brussels talks as “difficult”. This was evident from the sour expression on his face as he passed the journalists on his way to the motorcade. The Azerbaijani delegation following their Armenian counterparts looked confident next to him. A minute later, Telegram channels were excitedly reporting that the meeting had probably fallen short of the Armenian PM’s expectations, while Aliyev, on the contrary, had achieved his goals. This was confirmed later by, first, Pashinyan’s own acknowledgment that the conversation had not been an easy one, and second, his own statement that there was no alternative to the peace agenda and a treaty could be signed as early as this year. This means Aliyev’s arguments have worked on Pashinyan, and now we can already talk about the two countries moving closer to the finish line. Considering how quickly time flies, it is not long before we sit down to celebrate the New Year. We can only guess whether the two countries (and not only them) will fill their glasses with champagne at the stroke of midnight to give the toast we have been waiting for almost 30 years. But even today there is every hope of that happening.

Will peace come to the region immediately after that? We think not. The signing of a peace treaty is just the beginning of the road. It will not instantly heal decades-old wounds, it will not make minefields safe for walking, it will not give peace to the souls of the citizens missing in the first Karabakh war, and destroyed towns and villages will not magically rise up again the morning after the signing ceremony to open their doors to their former inhabitants. A different door will be opened when it happens: once signed, the peace treaty opens a long road that the two countries still have to walk together. This includes the Zangezur corridor, the delimitation and, most importantly, the post-delimitation demarcation of the border, including the resolution of the enclave issue, the establishment of cooperation, the elimination of enmity between the two immediate neighbors, and much more. This is a very long journey. Azerbaijan has been ready for it for a while, and it even keeps trying to persuade Armenia to follow its example. How soon after the conclusion of the peace treaty our two nations will end the era of confrontation is no longer up to Azerbaijan. The ball is in Armenia’s court now.

In the meantime, a person comes to the region, one of whose positions is “Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group”. We cannot say for certain what he came here with, but we can only assume that no one invited anyone with this status to Baku, just like his predecessors after the 44-day war. We will soon see whether Mr. Reeker came to help achieve the above-mentioned agenda or to do something else.

But since Pashinyan himself says (whether he is being sincere or disingenuous is anybody’s guess) that there is no alternative to the peace treaty, we hope the three capitals will also recognize the irreversibility of the process.

We are not asking them to help, but we will not allow them to get in the way either.

You Might Also Like

The July strike that shattered Yerevan’s plans and launched the great war

Abu Dhabi as a new starting point for peace in the South Caucasus

How Türkiye views Azerbaijan-Russia tensions

First Erdoğan, then Aliyev: Yerevan admits there’s no one left to count on

The Abu Dhabi meeting — a historic breakthrough for the entire South Caucasus

AzeMedia September 10, 2022 September 10, 2022

New articles

Farhad 1086x724
The South Caucasus is forming its own line: Farhad Mammadov on regional transformation and external players
Interview July 14, 2025
Ap25193441575094 e1752327098296 640x400
Syrian and Israeli officials expected to meet in Azerbaijan during Sharaa’s visit
News July 12, 2025
Siriya baku scaled
President of Syria Ahmad al-Sharaa has arrived in Azerbaijan on an official visit
News July 12, 2025
Fq39plpwwbcrz4c
Pakistani expert: “Iran’s future lies in the region, not in the West”
Interview July 12, 2025
24103d8e9b7f33e1c90d0b8f1f74c6af
The July strike that shattered Yerevan’s plans and launched the great war
Opinion July 12, 2025
Us Azerbaijan Relations
The United States has increased its investments in Azerbaijan’s economy
Economy News July 12, 2025
Abu dabi
Abu Dhabi as a new starting point for peace in the South Caucasus
Opinion July 12, 2025
Aliyev Putin August 18 2024 1536x948.jpg
How Türkiye views Azerbaijan-Russia tensions
Opinion July 12, 2025
2025 02 07t125243z 1023693602 rc2opca4d39r rtrmadp 3 azerbaijan russia 1751366812
Russia chooses a new tactic against Azerbaijan: three dangerous plans on the table
Interview July 11, 2025
Aliyev and pashinyan in abu dhabi 7 10 2025
First Erdoğan, then Aliyev: Yerevan admits there’s no one left to count on
Opinion July 11, 2025

You Might Also Like

24103d8e9b7f33e1c90d0b8f1f74c6af

The July strike that shattered Yerevan’s plans and launched the great war

July 12, 2025 6 Min Read
Abu dabi

Abu Dhabi as a new starting point for peace in the South Caucasus

July 12, 2025 14 Min Read
Aliyev Putin August 18 2024 1536x948.jpg

How Türkiye views Azerbaijan-Russia tensions

July 12, 2025 9 Min Read
Aliyev and pashinyan in abu dhabi 7 10 2025

First Erdoğan, then Aliyev: Yerevan admits there’s no one left to count on

July 11, 2025 6 Min Read
Abu dabi

The Abu Dhabi meeting — a historic breakthrough for the entire South Caucasus

July 10, 2025 8 Min Read
Mehdi sobhani

The Armenian ambassador in the body of an Iranian’: Who is using Mehdi Sobhani against Baku — and why

July 10, 2025 6 Min Read
Ria 8791119 preview

Turning point: will Aliyev and Pashinyan sign peace? And what will Russia do?

July 9, 2025 9 Min Read
E577090091f6462f8fb69f6e083a6c4e 1025335 1536x778

Azerbaijan’s regional leadership: Advancing sustainable development and connectivity through ECO co-operation

July 8, 2025 10 Min Read

Useful links

426082d1 a9e4 4ac5 95d4 4e84024eb314 pojkz91103g6zqfh8kiacu662b2tn9znit7ssu9ekg
Ab65ed96 2f4a 4220 91ac f70a6daaf659 pojkz67iflcc0wjkp1aencvsa5gq06ogif9cd0dl34
96e40a2b 5fed 4332 83c6 60e4a89fd4d0 pojkz836t9ewo4gue23nscepgx7gfkvx6okbbkasqo
759bde00 a375 4fa1 bedc f8e9580ceeca pq8mvb9kwubqf6bcadpkq5mz16nayr162k3j2084cg
aze-media-logo-ag1

We are a unique political and socio-cultural digest offering exclusive materials, translations from Azerbaijani media, and reprints of articles from around the world about Azerbaijan.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Cookies Policy

Email: editor@aze.media

© 2021 Aze.Media – Daily Digest
aze-media-logo1 aze-media-logo-ag1
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?