US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in a statement on the results of the US-Turkey Strategic Mechanism meeting held in Washington that they will make efforts to reach a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

So, can these joint efforts of Turkey and the United States be successful? What should they convince Yerevan to close the signing of the final peace agreement with Azerbaijan?

Talking about the issue to Ednews,  Prof. EU advisor of ANKASAM Strategic Research Center and Turkish political scientist,  Mustafa Nail Alkan believes that the main initiative in this process should be proposed by Armenia itself.

"Of course, the meeting chaired by US Secretary of State Blinken and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is important because both sides want to support the peace process, especially Azerbaijan and Armenia. Because there are many conflicts in the region, at least they want to ensure peace in this region of Azerbaijan and Armenia. Of course, the U.S. and Türkiye must want to ensure peace, but on the other hand, it is also important that both Armenia and Azerbaijan want peace in the region. Of course, Armenia should make this decision: Does it want peace with neighboring countries?
Because the truth here is that Armenia is not a very strong country in its field. They have economic and political problems. Therefore, if Armenia, especially Turkey, reconciles with Azerbaijan, there will be prosperity in its own country, it will not be forced into some kind of confusion with the Armenian diaspora, and it will not have to look favorably on Russia's policy. So, Armenia's desire is important here. On the other hand, of course, Turkey should accept that it is currently a regional power in the region. If some countries, especially Armenia, accept Turkey as a regional power, they will be able to solve some problems in their domestic and foreign policies with its support. If the United States, on the one hand, and Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, on the other hand, want to solve this issue, I believe that this process will solve it within a period. Then, if this process is resolved, all parties will win."

Former U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan and Jamestown Foundation Board Member, Matthew Bryza on the other hand thinks that currently there is no need for mediators, but he rates the process quite positive.

"It's quite positive that Secretary of State Blinken and Foreign Minister Fidan said that Ankara and Washington are working together to help Armenia and Azerbaijan reach a peace agreement. It's long been an objective of Türkiye to play such a role and Armenia has resisted that for obvious historical reasons. And of course, the United States has long been a mediator. At this point though, I don't believe there's any need for mediators because President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan are very close to a peace treaty.  They've worked through the most difficult issues and hopefully will soon finalize a peace treaty. But once the leaders reach that treaty, then, of course, they will need support from the United States and from Türkiye. Especially given that one of the goals of the peace process is to restore the transportation and trade links between Azerbaijan and Armenia from the East and between Türkiye and Armenia to the West, which will help Armenia reintegrate into the regional economy and generate thereby jobs and economic growth and prosperity, which will provide them a stronger platform for a lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. 

Akbar Novruz