Azerbaijan delegation visits Armenia for border talks amid regional shifts

A senior Azerbaijani delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev visited Armenia for border delimitation talks, as regional normalisation efforts continue between the two countries. 

The 13th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Armenia State Border Delimitation Commissions was held in Aghveran, Armenia, on 29 April, marking continued institutional engagement between the two countries.

Mustafayev, who also chairs Azerbaijan’s State Commission on Delimitation, met Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan as part of ongoing efforts to define and legally formalise the interstate border following years of conflict.

Technical progress on delimitation framework

The discussions focused on the legal and technical framework for delimitation, including procedures, mapping methodologies and documentation standards.

Both sides also exchanged views on border security, regional connectivity and the opening of transport routes.

The parties agreed and exchanged draft instructions covering:

• Work procedures for delimitation expert groups
• Preparation of the state border delimitation map
• Formalisation and publication of delimitation documents

Expanding cooperation

The talks also highlighted growing practical cooperation. Azerbaijani officials noted that cargo transit through Azerbaijan to Armenia is ongoing, alongside previously acknowledged petroleum product supplies to Armenia.

Discussions extended to business cooperation, trade flows and transport connectivity, with both sides emphasising that progress reflects political will at the highest level.

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Regional connectivity

The visit comes amid broader regional diplomatic activity, including preparations for the European Political Community summit in Yerevan on 4–6 May.

Armenia is also pursuing parallel normalisation tracks with Türkiye, including discussions on reopening regional transport links such as the Kars–Gyumri railway, alongside talks with Azerbaijan on connectivity.

• Türkiye-Armenia railway talks mark 'historic progress' in regional ties
• Armenia–Georgia border delimitation seen as key step for South Caucasus stability

In parallel developments, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has reportedly confirmed progress on border delimitation with Georgia, with both sides said to have agreed to complete the process.

He noted that finalising delimitation with both Azerbaijan and Georgia would effectively complete the formal definition of Armenia’s state borders, adding a broader regional dimension to South Caucasus normalisation efforts.

Azerbaijan’s dual-track foreign policy stance

Speaking to AnewZ James Ezimoha, political analyst Rustam Taghizade, who is a Geopolitical Consultant with the Academy of Public Administration in Azerbaijan, argued that Baku’s approach reflects two separate diplomatic tracks.

“With Armenia, Baku is playing a cooperative game… With the European Parliament, it is playing a competitive game… These are decoupled tracks and they do not affect each other.”

He added that Azerbaijan engages “where there is respect and withdraws where there is bias,” framing the approach as a deliberate strategic separation of issues.

Strategic shift in the South Caucasus

Taken together, the Armenia-Azerbaijan delimitation process, Armenia-European Union engagement, Armenia-Türkiye normalisation, and Armenia-Georgia border progress point to a wider restructuring of regional relations in the South Caucasus.

Officials on both sides continue to describe border delimitation as a key pillar of long-term stability and normalisation following major geopolitical shifts in the region.

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Politics Armenia Azerbaijan EU European Parliament delmitation Regional Stability South Caucasus