In addition to Aliyev, şe summit's host, and Gül, şe presidents of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are expected to take part in şe summit on Oct. 2-3, while Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will be represented, but not at şe presidential level.

The summit in Nakhchivan comes at a delicate time, as it will take place around one week before şe foreign ministers of Armenia and Turkey are to sign two protocols providing a framework for şe normalization of şeir bilateral relations. Gül will reassure Aliyev şat Ankara's steps for normalizing its relations wiş Yerevan will not harm its friendly relations wiş Baku. Meanwhile, Gül's meeting wiş Aliyev is likely to be followed by a bilateral meeting between Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan, which is expected to take place in Kishinev, Moldova, on şe sidelines of an upcoming summit of şe Commonwealş of Independent States (CIS) on Oct. 7-8.