Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited Egypt when an extraordinary conference of foreign ministers of the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation was convened in another influential country of the Arab world, Saudi Arabia. The news feed still conveys very little information about it, but it is self-evident that the Israeli-Palestinian problem is at the core of the discussions. On the same day, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who was reported to have “suffered a heart attack and stayed at home”, unexpectedly for many, held an open meeting with representatives of the Jewish community in Jerusalem and called on the occasion of Ramadan to “open an unhindered path for Muslims to Al- Aqsa Mosque”.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Bayramov also participated in the conference of foreign ministers of OIC member states. At the beginning of the year, Ilham Aliyev announced his “willingness to stand in the front lines of the fight against Islamophobia”. A private meeting between the foreign ministers of Iran and Azerbaijan took place in Saudi Arabia, during which Jeihun Bayramov informed his Iranian counterpart about the Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations. Bayramov emphasized that “Armenia’s involvement of third parties in the region does not contribute to stability and peace, and the efforts of some countries to arm it are a threat to the peace process.”
The foreign ministers of Iran and Azerbaijan also discussed the issue of restoring the activities of the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran. Last year, a person who “perpetrated terrorism” against Azerbaijan’s diplomatic mission was sentenced to death in Iran. Baku press predicts that “Azerbaijani diplomats will arrive in Tehran soon”. It seems that the activity of the embassy will not be restored immediately and in full volume. What additional expectations Baku has is not yet clear.
Judging by Asin Bayramov’s observation of “the involvement of a third party in the region”, Azerbaijan would like Tehran to show a clearer and tougher position on this issue. But is it in Iran’s interest to speak against the EU observation mission in Armenia, even if it is merely a diplomatic speech? If the Islamic Republic really has no other major problem in the Middle East than the creation of an independent state of Palestine, then the West and the European Union also insist on this.
It is an impression that Ilham Aliyev is trying to “sell” the position on the issue of Palestine and “willingness to stand in the front lines of the fight against Islamophobia” to the Islamic world at a high price, setting the problem of isolating Armenia and presenting it as an “ally of the Islamophobic West”. In this regard, Nikol Pashinyan’s visit to Egypt is highlighted by the fact that Cairo is on the one hand with the Arab-Islamic world, and on the other, it seems to be the political provider of the West.
It would be an exaggeration to say that the visit opens a reliable “window” for Armenia to the Islamic or at least the Arab world. But if the issue of Armenia delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza becomes practical, it will be a valuable diplomatic achievement.
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