No meeting is scheduled between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan during the OSCE Ministerial Council, as confirmed by Ani Badalyan, spokesperson for Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The council, taking place in Malta from December 4-5, will host Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, but no direct talks are planned.
Ararat Mirzoyan is set to hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the council. However, the absence of a direct meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart underscores the continued diplomatic deadlock between the two nations following the recent escalation in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).
The OSCE, historically the platform for the Minsk Group co-chairs’ efforts to mediate the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, now faces challenges in addressing the region’s evolving dynamics. With the displacement of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh following Azerbaijani military actions, the issue of ensuring the rights and protections of these individuals remains unresolved. This situation continues to weigh heavily on Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the broader international community.
While Azerbaijan seeks to close the chapter on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, its actions remain contested by Armenia and the international community, which lack consensus on how to move forward. The future of the Minsk Group and the fate of displaced Armenians remain open questions, requiring sustained diplomatic engagement and international cooperation.
As the OSCE Ministerial Council convenes, the lack of dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan highlights the complexities of the ongoing regional tensions and the challenges of finding a sustainable resolution.