RFE: Armenian, Azerbaijani Leaders Mix Optimistic Talk With Angry Discourse In Moscow
The leaders of bitter Caucasus rivals Armenia and Azerbaijan mixed words of conciliation with angry disagreement over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh in a Moscow meeting on May 25 in front of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said there had been progress in recent days toward a settlement of their long dispute based on mutual recognition of each other's territorial integrity.
But they also exchanged angry words over Baku's moves to impede Armenian access to Nagorno-Karabakh. Pashinian said the actions had caused a humanitarian crisis by closing the only land route from Armenia to the region -- an allegation Aliyev denied.
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Update #1: Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders spar in front of Putin (Reuters)
Update #2: Azerbaijan, Armenia seek peace deal in talks in Russia (Daily Sabah)
Update #3: Armenia, Azerbaijan advance peace talks in Moscow (The Cradle)
WNU Editor: The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan say they are optimistic that a peace deal will be made .... Armenia, Azerbaijan Optimistic on Normalization at Moscow Talks (Moscow Times). Even Putin says there was progress .... Putin reports progress in talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, saying only technical issues remain (AP).
But I saw no progress in yesterday's talks. What I saw were two sides who bitterly hate each other, and only showed up in Moscow because Putin told them to show up.