It followed the successful 43rd EOC General Assembly here, in which the Armenian Olympic Committee took part despite escalating tensions between their country and Azerbaijan.  

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.

More than 30,000 people were killed and 1.2 million displaced before Russia brokered a cease-fire in 1994.

The disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region has sparked fresh hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenia recently ©Wikipedia

Tensions escalated last week when Azerbaijan shot down what it claimed was an Armenian military helicopter east of Nagorno-Karabakh, killing three crew members.

It was the first time an aircraft was downed in the conflict zone in the past 20 years.

Armenia vowed to retaliate.

Earlier today, the Azerbaijan Government claimed Armenian armed forces have broken the ceasefire 75 times in the last 24 hours.

But Hickey, who travelled to Armenian capital Yerevan earlier this year to try to broker a deal to ensure their participation at Baku 2015, remained confident the problems between the two countries will not lead to a boycott.

"A few weeks ago I was in Armenia with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach," Hickey said.

"The negotiations in Armenia were not tense and were very pleasant.

"Armenia confirmed to us they will take part here at the European Games."

Patrick Hickey (centre) hopes the attendance at the EOC General Assembly in Baku of two delegates from the National Olympic Committee of Armenia indicates the country will compete at Baku 2015 despite raising tensions in the region ©ITG

The National Olympic Committee of Armenia have been represented here by secretary general Hrachya Rostomyan and head of international relations Vaghinak Galustyan.

"We had two delegates here for Armenia and I have spoken to them on several occasions," said Hickey. 

"They have been very happy with their treatment they have received here."

The Armenian Sambo Federation have already promised that they will send a team here for the Games when the sport will be one of two non-Olympic sports on the programme.

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