Armenia and Azerbaijan discuss fuel trade

(Horizon Weekly) – Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan has confirmed that Yerevan and Baku have held discussions on the possible export of oil and petroleum products from Azerbaijan to Armenia, adding a new economic dimension to ongoing contacts between the two sides.

In response to an inquiry from Azatutyun, Grigoryan said talks took place recently in Gabala during a meeting with Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev. Asked whether the sides had already reached an agreement on importing Azerbaijani fuel, Grigoryan replied that discussions had occurred and that opportunities for cooperation exist.

He declined to provide details on potential volumes, pricing, or which Armenian companies might be involved, stating that any next steps would fall within the scope of cooperation between private exporters and importers. According to the deputy prime minister, the terms of any future transactions would be determined by market conditions.

Public awareness of the talks initially came from the Azerbaijani side. Last week, Hikmet Hajiyev, assistant to the president of Azerbaijan on foreign policy affairs, said that alongside the border delimitation process, the deputy prime ministers of the two countries had discussed certain areas of mutual trade. He identified oil and petroleum products as one of the sectors currently under consideration for exports from Azerbaijan to Armenia.

Grigoryan did not specify what other trade areas are being discussed beyond fuel, noting only that talks on other goods are still ongoing. The discussions come amid broader contacts between Armenia and Azerbaijan focused primarily on border issues and the post conflict framework of relations between the two states.