European security summit clouded by Azerbaijan snub
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00:00 European flags hoisted over the historic Alhambra Palace and reinforced security along the streets
00:05 as the Spanish city of Granada prepares to welcome European leaders for back-to-back
00:10 summits over two days.
00:12 First up will be the European Political Community Conference on Thursday, followed by an informal
00:17 meeting between the leaders on Friday.
00:20 Organisers hope to also host sideline talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan under the mediation
00:25 of France, Germany and the European Council in order to discuss the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.
00:31 However, hopes were dashed when Azeri President Ilham Aliyev pulled out of the European meeting.
00:37 "Of course, it's painful that the trip didn't happen, but we are hopeful that this watershed
00:44 document, which is still on the table, will be signed at the right time."
00:53 A spokesman for the party of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Aliyev decided to
00:58 stay away because Ankara was not invited to take part in the meeting between Baku and
01:03 Yerevan.
01:05 Also snubbed from the summit's guest list - Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Belarus'
01:09 President Alexander Lukashenko, despite the war in Ukraine likely topping the agenda.
01:15 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is widely expected to make an appearance in Granada
01:20 to drum up more support and money from Western allies.
01:23 While the short time frame of the summit is unlikely to allow for many political breakthroughs,
01:28 the event is still a rare occasion to have leaders of rival nations such as Serbia and
01:33 Kosovo gathered in one plenary room.
01:36 and the walk-on.