Prague Meeting Affirms Madrid Principles as Negotiation Basis

Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev met in Prague during the EU’s Eastern Partnership summit, issuing a joint statement that reaffirms the Madrid Principles as the basis for continued negotiations.

Prague Context

The meeting occurred during:

EU Eastern Partnership launch
European integration discussions
Regional cooperation initiatives
Renewed international attention

Joint Statement

The presidents agreed to:

Reaffirm Previous Commitments

Moscow Declaration principles upheld
Madrid Principles as negotiation basis
Peaceful resolution commitment
International law framework

Instruct Negotiators

Foreign ministers to intensify work
Focus on Basic Principles finalization
Address implementation mechanisms
Prepare for presidential summit

Confidence Building

Strengthen ceasefire monitoring
Reduce front-line incidents
Enable humanitarian contacts
Consider economic cooperation

EU Involvement

The European Union’s role expanded:

Eastern Partnership Framework

Conflict resolution as priority
Economic incentives offered
Regional integration vision
Post-conflict rehabilitation support

Specific EU Proposals

Technical assistance for negotiations
Confidence-building funding
Future reconstruction aid
Visa facilitation promises

“The EU stands ready to support any agreement the parties reach,” stated the EU High Representative.

Negotiation Dynamics

Progress Indicators

Second presidential meeting in six months
Constructive atmosphere reported
Technical discussions advancing
International momentum building

Remaining Challenges

Core disagreements persist
Public skepticism high
Implementation details complex
Timeline disagreements

Madrid Principles Evolution

The Prague meeting clarified:

Territorial Aspects: Phased approach confirmed
Status Question: Legally binding expression of will
Security Arrangements: International guarantees essential
Return Rights: All displaced persons included
Interim Period: Self-governance provisions

Regional Reactions

Supporting Powers

Russia: Welcomes continued dialogue United States: Encourages breakthrough France: Offers mediation support Turkey: Signals readiness for normalization

Regional Concerns

Iran: Monitors Western involvement Georgia: Hopes for regional stability

Domestic Challenges

Armenian Concerns

Security guarantees adequacy
Karabakh participation demands
Opposition criticism growing
Public preparation needed

Azerbaijani Issues

Timeline for territorial returns
Refugee return modalities
Military option advocates
Oil wealth impatience

Expert Analysis

Positive Assessment

“The Prague meeting shows sustained momentum. Both leaders recognize the window for diplomacy won’t remain open indefinitely.”

Cautious View

“Joint statements are positive, but we’ve seen this before. The test is whether they can move beyond principles to specific agreements.”

Parallel Developments

Turkey-Armenia Rapprochement

Border opening discussions
Historical commission proposals
Regional integration potential
Complicating factor for Azerbaijan

Russia’s Mediation

Competing with EU influence
Maintaining regional role
Balancing both parties
Security guarantor position

Next Steps

Short-term

Foreign minister meeting in June
Expert groups on key issues
Confidence-building implementation
Public communication strategies

Medium-term

Basic Principles agreement target
Implementation roadmap drafting
International guarantees negotiation
Societies preparation campaigns

Critical Factors

Success depends on:

Political will maintenance
External pressure continuity
Economic incentives attractiveness
Security concerns addressing
Public opinion evolution

Conclusion

The Prague meeting demonstrates that diplomatic momentum from the Moscow Declaration continues. While fundamental challenges remain, the consistent high-level engagement and international support create the best opportunity in years for breakthrough. The coming months will reveal whether this diplomatic progress can overcome the deep-rooted obstacles to peace.