Azerbaijan and Armenia peace process and regional economic forum developments

Discussions regarding the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia are considering the potential involvement of political parties and non-governmental organizations. While official dialogues have occurred between leaders and foreign ministers, political party engagement remains subject to the direction of state leadership. Azerbaijani political figures have indicated a willingness to contribute constructively to the peace process if deemed appropriate by their respective governments to foster societal trust and mutual understanding.

In a separate development related to regional normalization, an economic forum involving Turkish and Armenian businesspeople faced criticism regarding the distribution of European Union grant funds. While the event, aimed at strengthening cross-border relations, covered all expenses for approximately 150 Turkish participants—including accommodation and travel—it reportedly failed to provide similar financial support for Armenian businesspeople traveling from provincial regions like Mehri and Agarak. These local participants were required to cover their own travel costs to Yerevan, leading to claims of inequity in the EU-funded initiative.