Press release following the phone calls of President Charles Michel with Prime Minister of Armenia and President of Azerbaijan on 25 March 2023

President of the European Council Charles Michel today had separate bilateral telephone conversations with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.

In follow-up to his latest meetings with the leaders in Munich on 16-17 February 2023, President Michel raised with them the various topics discussed in the framework of the Brussels process between their first trilateral meeting held on 14 December 2021 and their fourth meeting held on 31 August 2022.

He reaffirmed the EU’s strong commitment to helping the sides reach a long-awaited normalisation and sustainable peace.

In this context, President Michel expressed concerns about the continuous crisis around the Lachin corridor, the recent casualties and sharp increase in tensions on the ground as well as accompanying negative rhetoric.

He urged his counterparts to look for compromise solutions and to refrain from any actions that could lead to risks of escalation.

In both calls, the leaders agreed to stay in close contact.

Source: EMM/ Agriculture and Food Department Authority