Simonyan reveals details of talks with Aliyev on peace

Armenia’s Security Council Secretary Alen Simonyan spoke to Armenian journalists on the sidelines of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), held in Yerevan. In his remarks, Simonyan revealed some details of his contact with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the conversation is believed to have taken place on the sidelines of a summit in Bishkek in September this year.

Simonyan told journalists: “I had the opportunity to convey to the President of Azerbaijan that his personal role and statements are important in advancing the peace process. His words are also closely followed by the public in Armenia. He listened to me and responded calmly.”

The secretary of Armenia’s Security Council also commented on Azerbaijan’s decision not to participate in the COP17 events in Yerevan. Simonyan said he did not believe the decision would negatively affect the bilateral peace talks.

He did not rule out that Baku’s refusal could be a diplomatic response to Yerevan’s absence from the COP29 conference held in Baku in November 2024. Simonyan stressed that the leaders of both countries should work to foster an atmosphere of peace in their societies:

“There is currently no acute tension in relations between the parties, and none is expected,” he added.

The 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) is scheduled to take place in Yerevan from October 19 to 30, 2026. The event’s preliminary preparations and the “Green Zone” platform will begin operating on October 18.

Official invitations have been sent to all 196 parties to the convention, and a number of heads of state and government are expected to attend.