London: The prestigious British newspaper The Telegraph has published an article by Elin Suleymanov, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to the United Kingdom, highlighting historic breakthroughs reached under President Ilham Aliyev's leadership in advancing peace and normalization process in the region.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, for over three decades, Azerbaijan and Armenia have been entrenched in a prolonged conflict characterized by two major wars and numerous skirmishes. Despite numerous rounds of peace talks, resolutions seemed elusive until a recent unexpected development in Washington. Azerbaijan and Armenia reached an agreement, a feat considered improbable without the restoration of Azerbaijan's sovereign borders and the return of Donald Trump to the White House.
President Trump hosted President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia at the White House, where they signed a declaration reinforcing their mutual commitment to peace and normalization. This declaration was witnessed by President Trump, and the foreign ministers of both countries initialed the text for a future peace agreement. In addition, Azerbaijan and the United States agreed to establish a working group to draft a strategic partnership charter, while ExxonMobil and SOCAR signed a memorandum of understanding on exploration.
In a symbolic gesture, President Trump signed a waiver to Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, which had prohibited U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan since 1992. This legislation had long been a contentious issue in Azerbaijan-U.S. relations, viewed as counterproductive and driven by special interests.
Another pivotal development was the joint letter by the two foreign ministers requesting the OSCE to abolish its long-defunct Minsk Group. This mediating body, co-chaired by France, Russia, and the United States, had failed to make any significant progress towards peace over the decades. The Armenian leadership acknowledged that it was Azerbaijan's restoration of territorial integrity that empowered Armenia to assert its sovereignty more effectively, facilitating regional growth and integration.
Ambassador Suleymanov emphasized that President Ilham Aliyev, following a decisive military success in 2020, proposed a roadmap for peace and normalization. Over the past five years, this process has advanced, albeit with challenges, along the roadmap suggested by Azerbaijan. The international law has consistently supported Azerbaijan, and President Aliyev's vision is anchored in regional development, shared prosperity, and the promotion of national sovereignty.
In Washington, President Aliyev declared that Azerbaijan and Armenia are moving towards lasting peace, closing the chapter of enmity. Both leaders also agreed to nominate President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, recognizing his role in facilitating this peace process. This nomination holds symbolic significance, as the Nobel Prize has historical ties to Azerbaijan, with its funding partially derived from the oil business in Baku.
The ambassador concluded by expressing optimism for a prosperous and peaceful future for the region, urging all parties to embrace peace and inclusive economic development.