Abu Dhabi meeting between Armenian and Azerbaijani leadersCEFR B2
17 Jul 2025
Adapted from Arzu Geybullayeva, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Zulfugar Karimov, Unsplash
On July 10 in Abu Dhabi Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held their first unmediated bilateral meeting. The talks followed an agreement in principle announced in March on the terms of a peace deal. Both leaders said that bilateral negotiations represent the most efficient format to address the normalization process.
Officials kept many details private, though the Azerbaijan Press Agency said discussions covered border delimitation, the opening and development of the Zangezur corridor, the initialing of a peace agreement, and other issues. The draft peace deal reportedly includes major concessions by Armenia, such as removing EU monitors from the border and dropping lawsuits in international courts. Azerbaijan also sought constitutional changes tied to the 1990 Declaration of Independence, and Prime Minister Pashinyan supports a new constitution by referendum planned for 2027.
The proposed Zangezur Corridor remains a central dispute: Armenia rejects the corridor name and refuses to cede control of the 32-kilometre route. On July 11 the US ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, described a possible US role in managing the road. The International Crisis Group has said transport modalities remain central to the process. The talks underline a shifting regional balance: Moscow has been diplomatically restrained and analysts say Russian influence is waning. Domestic politics in Armenia, the detention of businessman Samvel Karapetyan, and public disputes between Baku and Moscow over events such as the 25 December 2024 plane crash add further uncertainty. The Abu Dhabi meeting was a breakthrough, but many political and diplomatic hurdles remain before a lasting agreement can be finalised.
Difficult words
- bilateral — involving two states or two parties
- delimitation — act of setting or marking a border
- initial — to sign or mark a document firstinitialing
- concession — things given up during negotiationsconcessions
- cede — to give up control or territory
- referendum — a public vote on a specific proposal
- modality — methods or ways of doing somethingmodalities
- wane — becoming weaker or less strongwaning
- breakthrough — an important advance or sudden success
- corridor — a route or passage between areas
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you think bilateral talks between the two leaders are the most efficient way to normalise relations? Why or why not?
- What risks or political obstacles mentioned in the article could prevent a lasting agreement?
- How might the opening of a corridor like Zangezur affect neighbouring countries and regional relations?
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