On October 21, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ceyhun Bayramov, welcomed a delegation led by Michael Carpenter, Special Assistant to the U.S. President and Senior Director for Europe at the National Security Council. The meeting addressed bilateral and regional issues between Azerbaijan and the United States, as well as the current state and prospects of the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Both sides emphasized the importance of fostering positive dynamics in bilateral relations and increasing efforts to outline future cooperation opportunities. Minister Bayramov also briefed the U.S. delegation on the normalization and peace treaty negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, including the latest talks held in Istanbul. Despite notable progress, Bayramov noted that Armenia’s continued territorial claims, reflected in its Constitution and other legal and political documents, remain a significant barrier to signing a final peace agreement.

The meeting also included discussions on other regional issues of mutual interest.