Baku and Yerevan do not need to seek the mediators' help to reach a peace agreement; this can be resolved through direct negotiations, director of the Report news agency Fuad Huseynaliyev said on the air of the CBC TV channel.
"Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated that it does not need mediators. The parties are able to negotiate directly, this is confirmed by both examples of past meetings and the latest agreement on the exchange of military personnel," he said.
The agency director noted that third-party mediators may pursue their own interests, and concluding a peace treaty may not be part of these interests.
As an alternative to mediation, Huseynaliyev listed the meetings in the 3+3 format [negotiations with the participation of representatives of Russia, Iran, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia], or in the 2+3 format if Georgia refuses to participate.
"Each country in the region will make significantly greater efforts for a settlement, since peace in the South Caucasus will open up communications, transport and logistics routes, which strengthens the economy of the region," he said.
Huseynaliyev believes that Tbilisi would be the best option as a platform for holding bilateral meetings between Azerbaijan and Armenia, since Georgia, as a regional country, is ready to take a neutral position.
"Border delimitation is a long-term process as it is necessary to determine it down to the meter. This is a rather complex process. For example, after 30 years of independence, Azerbaijan has not yet completed this process with Georgia," he said, touching on the issue of the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia .
According to Huseynaliyev, the basis for delimitation should be the peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia, after which communications can be opened and other issues can be resolved.
Regarding the information about Armenia's acquisition of military equipment from France and India, Report's director noted that he does not see any serious threats in this. French supplies include obsolete weapons of questionable quality. And Indian weapons have not been tested enough, so Armenia could become a testing ground for them.
"Support from France is purely demonstrative, giving false hopes for Western support in the event of a conflict. Armenia should not believe these promises," he noted.
