Ex-Soviet Ukraine and Georgia – both dealing with the occupation of large tracts of territory by Russia or its proxies – likely came away disappointed if they had expected the summit to bring clarity to their strategic issues.

Any resumption of hostilities would likely involve the few areas of internationally recognised Azerbaijan still under de facto Armenian control or border areas.

It was clear during the six-week onslaught by Baku last year that Moscow was no longer unilaterally calling the shots. And it demonstrated how NATO member Ankara’s 25-year effort to help Azerbaijan build its army from the ground up effectively was successful.

Mine contamination in the Karabakh region significantly affects the reconstruction process as well as killing civilians and servicemen. Azerbaijan has already started demining operations in the liberated areas using modern mine clearance techniques and technologies.

Thomas Goltz is one of the best-known writers on the Caucasus region. He is a trained Shakespearean actor, and predictably, legendary for eccentricity and drama.

Armenia's Central Bank raised its key refinancing rate for the third time since February to 6.5 percent to bring inflation back to target.