Ilham Aliyev: „Our goal is to achieve tangible results from the work and we have a very clear vision for the future development of the region. These are the main problems affecting the post-conflict period, and if they are resolved, there will be peace in the region, peace throughout the South Caucasus, the risk of war will be significantly reduced and we will be able to live in safety. We will be able to build and create, which is a distinctive feature of the Azerbaijani people”.
During a meeting with members of the government, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stressed that international organizations are aware of the new realities in the region after the war with Armenia in 2020, which resulted in the liberation of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Contacts between Azerbaijan and the European Union have intensified since the war. The European Union has accepted the realities of the post-conflict period. This month, at the initiative of the President of the European Council, Mr Charles Michel, tripartite meetings were held. The expression "conflict" is missing from the final communiqué of the meeting, which is quite natural. Naturally, since this conflict does not exist, it has been resolved.
Azerbaijan submitted a five-point proposal to normalize relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which was welcomed by the Armenian side. In this way, the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is recognized and Armenia renounces its territorial claims to Azerbaijan. This is an extremely positive result, as well as a key condition for the normalization of bilateral relations. An agreement was reached on the establishment of working groups on the border, as well as on the preparation of a peace agreement.
Recently, the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia held a telephone conversation, a precedent for the past 30 years. Border demarcation working groups are due to be formed by the end of April, and the working groups on the preparation of the peace agreement are due to begin work soon.
"We have high hopes for this process and we would like this issue to be resolved without wasting any more time," President Aliyev stated.
Armenia's development will depend on itself and its attitude towards its neighbors, as it cannot develop fully without normalizing its relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey. It has already become clear that Armenia’s 30-year occupation policy was too costly. The Armenians waisted their chance to become a truly independent state. And now they are being given that chance again. The country will either take the path of development or find itself in an even more precarious situation.
As for Azerbaijan, as President Aliyev has already said:
„Our goal is to achieve tangible results from the work and we have a very clear vision for the future development of the region. These are the main problems affecting the post-conflict period, and if they are resolved, there will be peace in the region, peace throughout the South Caucasus, the risk of war will be significantly reduced and we will be able to live in safety. We will be able to build and create, which is a distinctive feature of the Azerbaijani people”.
Source: Embassy of Azerbaijan in Bulgaria