Ilham Aliyev and Nikol Pashinyan's Abu Dhabi Meeting (2025)

Diplomatic talks between Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took place in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, on 9–10 July 2025. The meetings were held to advance the ongoing peace process between the two sides, and it was decided that negotiations would continue through future meetings.

Background of the Talks

Karabakh Conflicts and the Peace Process

The peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia gained momentum after Azerbaijan’s military operation in Karabakh in September 2023. As a result of the operation, approximately 100,000 ethnic Armenians left the region and migrated to Armenia. In March 2025, the parties reached an agreement on a draft text for a peace treaty. A final signing date has not yet been set. Following the release of the draft text, minor ceasefire violations occurred along the border, but no violations were reported as of July 2025.

Constitutional Issues and Regional Demands

The Azerbaijani government has called for amendments to the Armenian Constitution, asserting that it indirectly claims rights over Azerbaijani territory. Armenia has rejected this claim; Prime Minister Pashinyan has argued that updating the constitution is necessary and stated that if the Constitutional Court does not approve the peace agreement, Armenia will initiate a constitutional amendment process. Azerbaijan has also demanded the opening of the Zangezur Corridor, which would provide access to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. This corridor is a strategic project aimed at establishing a direct land connection between Azerbaijan and Türkiye.

Course of the Abu Dhabi Talks

The talks held in Abu Dhabi lasted approximately five hours and included two inter-delegation sessions and two bilateral meetings. The Azerbaijani delegation included Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Presidential Assistant Hikmet Haciyev, and Presidential Special Envoy Elchin Amirbayov. The Armenian delegation included Deputy Prime Minister Mger Grigoryan, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan, and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Ruben Rubinyan.

Main Topics Discussed

The following issues were addressed during the talks:

• The progress made in the process of delimiting the Azerbaijan-Armenia border and instructions to be given to state commissions for its continuation,
• The opening and development of the Zangezur Corridor,
• The countersigning process of the peace agreement reached in March 2025.

Negotiation Method and Agreements

The parties confirmed that bilateral, mediator-free negotiations are the most effective approach. In a constructive atmosphere, both sides agreed on implementing confidence-building measures and continuing bilateral talks. The goal is to resolve all aspects of the normalization process through results-oriented bilateral dialogue.

Previous Contacts

Aliyev and Pashinyan held an informal meeting in May 2025 at the European Political Community Summit in Tirana, Albania. In June 2025, Pashinyan met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Istanbul.

Official Statements by the Parties

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that all dimensions of the normalization process were addressed in the Abu Dhabi talks and that mediator-free negotiations will continue toward a solution. The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in its written statement, affirmed that the peace process will proceed through results-oriented dialogue.