Antalya, Türkiye – Discussions surrounding the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process are gaining momentum, with potential for significant breakthroughs following talks at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in April, according to Burhanettin Duran, Head of the Communications Directorate of the Turkish Presidential Administration.
Duran indicated that meetings between Azerbaijani and Armenian representatives at the forum could provide crucial impetus to ongoing negotiations. “If meetings that could accelerate progress in this direction take place at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, I believe this could produce exceptionally significant results,” he stated, as reported by APA news agency.
The forum, which convened in April 2025, saw a meeting between Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan, marking a new phase in normalization talks, according to Caliber.Az. The ministers reviewed the finalized text of an Agreement on Peace and the Establishment of Interstate Relations and reaffirmed their commitment to continued dialogue.
Beyond direct bilateral discussions, the Antalya Diplomacy Forum similarly addressed broader regional cooperation. A panel discussion titled “Challenges and Opportunities for Regional Cooperation in the South Caucasus” included the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia, all of whom expressed commitment to advancing peace, economic cooperation, and connectivity, as reported by Türkiye Today.
Duran also highlighted the potential for easing border restrictions as a step towards improved relations between Türkiye and Armenia, noting that allowing third-country citizens to cross the border through Türkiye is under consideration. He emphasized that Türkiye is coordinating this process in conjunction with Azerbaijan.
The prospect of a lasting peace agreement has been bolstered by the involvement of former U.S. President Donald Trump in the process, which Duran described as having reached a “significant stage.”
Further discussions on normalization between Armenia and Turkey also took place on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, according to OC Media, indicating a multi-faceted approach to regional stability.