Parliamentary Secretary Oliphant meets Armenian and Azerbaijani delegations in Vienna, reaffirms support for a “just peace” based on Helsinki Final Act

(Horizon Weekly) — Parliamentary Secretary to Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, The Hon. Rob Oliphant, held separate meetings with the Armenian and Azerbaijani delegations on the margins of the 2025 OSCE Ministerial Council on December 4–5, reiterating Ottawa’s continued engagement in the South Caucasus peace process.

Oliphant met with Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Robert Abisoghomonyan, a meeting later detailed in a readout from Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the MFA, the two discussed unresolved issues in the Armenia–Azerbaijan normalization process, regional connectivity, and prospects for continued cooperation with Canada. Oliphant also issued a social media statement underscoring that “Canada supports the ongoing peace process in the South Caucasus — a critical step towards ensuring prosperity and stability in the region,” noting that Canada looks forward to “continuing productive dialogue with Armenia.”

Oliphant also met with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. Following the meeting, he wrote that Canada remains dedicated to fostering peace, prosperity, and stability in the South Caucasus, adding that Canada will continue to advocate for a just peace in the region “based on the respect of the principles of the Helsinki Final Act.” His reference to the Helsinki Final Act is noteworthy, as the Act affirms not only territorial integrity and the non use of force but also the right to self determination, a principle that continues to bear directly on the unresolved political and humanitarian questions linked to the Nagorno Karabakh issue.

Canada has consistently welcomed recent diplomatic progress. After the August 8 meeting in Washington, Foreign Minister Anita Anand stated on August 10 that agreements reached through negotiation can provide a clear path toward a comprehensive peace, while also stressing that key issues must still be addressed. She specifically underlined the release of all Armenian detainees and prisoners of war, the safe and dignified right of return of Armenian civilians, and the protection of cultural heritage. Anand also noted Canada’s readiness to support mechanisms that uphold the principles of the Helsinki Final Act, including self determination, and reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to a negotiated political solution to the Nagorno Karabakh issue.

At the request of both Armenia and Azerbaijan, the OSCE Minsk Group has been fully dissolved as of December 1, ending the mandate of the body that mediated the conflict for decades. Canada’s latest statements in Vienna signal that although the format has changed, Ottawa intends to remain engaged and to support a peace that is fair, lawful, and responsive to the outstanding humanitarian and political concerns in the region.