Despite the “optimistic backdrop,” the issue of prisoners of war in Armenian-Azerbaijani relations not only remains a topical issue, but the strengthening of Azerbaijani troops in the sovereign territories of the Republic of Armenia remains a pressing issue. This was stated by Tigran Abrahamyan, Secretary of the “I Have the Honor” faction, during briefings of the NA factions.
“The statement by the President of Azerbaijan after the meeting with the US Vice President raised far more questions than allowed for discussion of possible solutions. Specifically, the statement by the President of Azerbaijan that this topic was raised, Azerbaijan stated its position, and that was it. This suggests two things: either this topic was not the subject of serious discussion, and the US Vice President raised it purely formally, given the current mood in Armenia, or there is a certain agreement between various officials to carefully avoid this issue.” Aliyev’s statement was somewhat surprising in that he demonstrated that this issue wasn’t a priority, as it couldn’t simply be sidestepped or dismissed in the context of his dealings with a high-ranking American official. This was further evidence that it wasn’t a top priority or on the agenda for the Armenian authorities.
This issue wasn’t a matter of any urgency in the Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiation process, which further underscores the notion that Azerbaijan is raising issues of importance to itself and receiving solutions, while no meaningful discussions on issues important to Armenia are taking place. “There is no short-term solution, and nothing will change in the short term,” he noted.