Baku: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announced what he described as the conclusion of a prolonged conflict with Armenia during a recent interview with Al Arabiya TV channel.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, President Aliyev stated that a pivotal event occurred in Washington on August 8th, marking the end of the confrontation and standoff between the two nations. He reflected on the historical context, noting that Azerbaijan had been at war with Armenia for many years, starting from the early 1990s when Armenian forces occupied Azerbaijani territories.
Aliyev detailed the impact of the conflict, revealing that approximately 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories were occupied, resulting in one million refugees. This situation, he explained, represented one of the highest ratios of displaced persons per capita at that time, given Azerbaijan's population of 8 million. The First Karabakh War concluded in 1994 with a ceasefire, leading to extended negotiations that persisted until 2020. It was during the Second Karabakh War that Azerbaijan regained control over its internationally recognized territories, restoring what Aliyev described as justice, international law, and national dignity.
The President emphasized that Azerbaijan took proactive steps towards establishing peace with Armenia, initiating a format for negotiations and presenting a draft peace agreement. The recent developments in Washington were aligned with the Azerbaijani vision for interstate relations between the two countries. Aliyev credited President Trump and his team for their support, which he believes has brought an end to the conflict. Despite the absence of a formal peace agreement, Aliyev noted that changes to the Armenian constitution, specifically regarding territorial integrity, are anticipated to facilitate the signing of a formal agreement.
Aliyev concluded by highlighting the significance of the initialing of the document at the White House, in the presence of President Trump. He expressed optimism that this marks the end of a conflict spanning over 30 years and opens new opportunities for the South Caucasus region, as well as Central Asia and the Middle East.