Ilham Aliyev: 'Signing of Official Peace Agreement Depends on When Armenia's Constitution is Amended'
I hope that we will sign a peace agreement this year. I have repeatedly stated this, noting that the very fact of initialing the peace agreement in the White House in the presence of the United States, along with the joint declaration signed by the Prime Minister of Armenia, myself, and President Trump as a witness, is sufficient to say that peace has already been achieved.
This was stated by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev during a panel discussion titled 'Politics of Open Corridors? Deepening Trans-Caspian Cooperation' at the Munich Security Conference.
He noted that from August of last year to the present, there has been an entirely new situation at the border: there are no shootings, no casualties, no injuries, and no issues.
'Moreover, we have started practical cooperation with Armenia. We have lifted all restrictions on the transportation of goods through the territory of Azerbaijan.
And we are grateful to our Georgian friends for providing critically important transit for goods arriving in Azerbaijan through Georgia. We have also begun supplying petroleum products to Armenia – a critically important commodity for them. And thus, we have effectively launched mutual trade,' said the head of state.
The Azerbaijani leader stated that, in terms of signing an official peace agreement, everything depends on when Armenia's constitution is amended to exclude territorial claims against Azerbaijan, which have existed there for three decades.
'And the day after this is done, the peace agreement will be officially signed,' he pointed out.
President Ilham Aliyev stated that the Trump Route for international peace and prosperity will also play an important role in creating new transport connections.
'As I have already noted, the transport route from China, Central Asia, across the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Azerbaijan (the exclave of Nakhchivan), Turkey, and further to Europe will create an entirely new situation. This will be beneficial for all countries. All countries on this route will be more integrated politically and economically, and this will be another contribution to long-term and lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, because peace can be achieved when there is a real peace process. Signing the document is important. It is the foundation. But no less important is what you do after that,' said the head of state.
He noted that the time from the last bloody clash between Azerbaijan and Armenia to the summit in Washington was less than two years.
'I think this is a record for all conflicts, especially for conflicts that have lasted three decades. Thus, both sides have demonstrated strong political will to end this confrontation and open a new chapter of peace.
We have been living in peace for only six months, and, believe me, this is a very special, very good feeling that is shared by the entire population of Azerbaijan, and I am sure, by the population of Armenia as well. Projects to ensure connectivity and corridors will further unite us, make us interdependent, and create an entirely new situation in the South Caucasus, where Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia can finally begin to interact on a trilateral basis,' concluded the President.
