The two countries have recently been in renewed conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh, a landlocked region in the South Caucasus which lies within Azerbaijan's internationally recognised borders.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan today held talks with United States Secretary of State John Kerry at the NATO Summit in Cardiff to discuss the issue. 

Kerry warned that the recent violence along the Line of Contact was the most dangerous period in the conflict since the 1994 ceasefire took effect.

But Rahimov, who is also chief executive of Baku 2015, has guaranteed the safety of Armenia's athletes if they take part in the European Games, which is due to take place between June 12 and June 28 next year. 

"Azerbaijani athletes have participated in the competitions held in Armenia," he said here today at the end of the fourth European Olympic Commttees (EOC) Coordination Commission visit to inspect preparations for the Games. 

"For example, recently our athletes participated in an archery event held in Armenia.

"From this viewpoint, there are no restrictions in sports.

"The safety of our athletes at the European Games will be at a high level."

Azerbaijan's Minister of Youth and Sport Azad Rahimov (second left) has claimed he does not believe there will be any problems with Armenia competing at next year's European Games ©Baku 2015

As exclusively revealed by insidethegames, EOC President Patrick Hickey is due to travel to Armenian capital Yerevan next month to hold talks there and try to guarantee their participation in the Games.

"From what we have heard from Minister Rahimov we are confident that Armenian athletes will take part in the European Games," Spyros Capralos, head of the EOC Coordination Commission. told insidethegames.

"We are committed to all our members participating in the first-ever event."

Doubts over Armenia's participation was the only negative aspect of the Coordination Commission's visit here which claimed to be happy with Baku's progress.

"Significant work has been achieved over the past year and a half and the continued efforts to innovate, particularly with regards the sports programme, is very impressive," said Capralos. 

"The European Games will make history for European sport and it is vital that Baku 2015 continues its excellent progress in preparing for Europe's first continental multi-sport Games.