Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian mentioned a peace settlement with Azerbaijan by the top of 2024 was attainable, whereas an adviser to President Ilham Aliyev affirmed his nation’s dedication to resolve excellent points with Armenia by peaceable means.
Pashinian instructed Russia’s Tass information company that Armenia was taking all needed steps to make sure a peace deal. He said that the “humanitarian disaster” in Karabakh required vitality and time “that must be spent on addressing the peace deal” as a substitute.
Azerbaijan has reiterated its dedication to resolving ongoing points with Armenia by peaceable means however has raised considerations about Yerevan’s monetary assist for the “so-called regime in Karabakh,” which Baku says will not be contributing to peace.
Hikmet Hajiyev, an adviser to the Azerbaijani president, emphasised Baku’s accountable standing within the worldwide group in an interview printed on Saturday by Tass, asserting that Azerbaijan constantly operates inside the framework of its structure and worldwide regulation, at all times striving for peaceable resolutions to present challenges.
Concerning potential compromises in negotiations with Yerevan, Hajiyev mentioned Baku wouldn’t interact in discussions that jeopardize its territorial integrity and sovereignty, whether or not with Armenia or every other third celebration. On the peace course of and regional developments between Azerbaijan and Armenia, he highlighted the negotiations primarily based on 5 basic ideas, together with mutual recognition of territorial integrity and sovereignty.
He identified that current actions by the Armenian authorities, significantly Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s congratulatory message to the “self-proclaimed regime in Karabakh,” have significantly harmed the method.
Whereas Armenia has made public statements recognizing Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, the president’s advisor famous that Armenia’s monetary assist for the “so-called regime in Karabakh and the so-called regime’s presidential election haven’t contributed to peace.”
Hajiyev raised considerations about provocations by the Armenian Military alongside the border and in Karabakh however reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s dedication to the peace course of. He urged Armenia to not meddle in Azerbaijan’s inside affairs and to respect its sovereignty. The peace course of has been hindered by Armenia’s continued assist for an unlawful regime on Azerbaijani territory, he mentioned, emphasizing the necessity for opening the Aghdam and Lachin roads and calling for an finish to Armenia’s insurance policies that stymie regional dialogue.
Armenia’s coverage of supporting the unlawful regime that holds 30,000 ethnic Armenian residents dwelling in Karabakh hostage in Azerbaijan should finish, the president’s advisor mentioned, including that there isn’t any room for “grey areas” in Azerbaijan.
He emphasised that any try and intervene in Azerbaijan’s inside affairs by proposing worldwide mechanisms for dialogue with the ethnic Armenian minority in Karabakh can be futile.
He mentioned the potential opening of the Zengezur Hall, emphasizing that it will primarily profit Armenia. Nonetheless, if Armenia refuses to cooperate, Azerbaijan is actively exploring different tasks with different regional companions. The advisor expressed hope for a peace treaty by the top of the 12 months and known as on Armenia to take the principle step towards recognizing Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, together with Karabakh, by signing a peace settlement.
Separatist Armenians within the Karabakh area of Azerbaijan held self-proclaimed elections final week to decide on a brand new separatist president, a transfer that was not acknowledged by many, together with Azerbaijan, Türkiye, the U.S. and the U.Okay. in addition to the European Union.
Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have been tense since 1991 when the Armenian army occupied Karabakh, a territory internationally acknowledged as a part of Azerbaijan, and 7 adjoining areas. Within the fall of 2020, Azerbaijan liberated a number of cities, villages and settlements from Armenian occupation throughout 44 days of clashes. The struggle ended with a Russia-brokered cease-fire.
Nonetheless, tensions between the 2 nations proceed regardless of ongoing talks over a long-term peace settlement.
4-way talks
In the meantime, Türkiye has prolonged a proposal to guide three-way talks about Karabakh, involving these two international locations and neighboring Armenia, whereas additionally expressing readiness for four-way discussions that would come with Russia, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan mentioned on Saturday.
“We conveyed our proposal for a trilateral assembly below our management to them (Azerbaijan and Armenia). Past the trilateral method, we additionally made a quadrilateral proposal,” Erdoğan mentioned at a information convention in Istanbul forward of his departure for subsequent week’s U.N. Basic Meeting assembly in New York.
“There was no response but,” he mentioned of the four-way proposal, noting that he would additionally additional focus on the matter along with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev to carefully monitor developments.