(Reuters) – The leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia expressed hopes for securing a lasting peace agreement despite their differences over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, as stated in interviews broadcasted on Tuesday.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Azerbaijan and Armenia engaged in two wars over Nagorno-Karabakh, a small mountainous enclave that is part of Azerbaijan but inhabited by approximately 120,000 ethnic Armenians.
In 2020, Azerbaijan gained control of areas previously held by ethnic Armenians in and around the mountain enclave after a period of intense fighting and a Russian-brokered ceasefire.
Since then, the two sides have been engaged in discussions to reach a peace agreement that will determine borders, settle disputes related to the enclave, and improve bilateral relations.
“I think it is right to be hopeful,” stated Azeri President Ilham Aliyev in an interview with Euronews. The interview was conducted on July 21 in the Karabakh town of Shusha and aired on Tuesday. Aliyev further added, “If we see a constructive approach from the Armenian side, and most importantly, if they totally set aside all aspirations to contest our territorial integrity, then we can find a peace solution very soon, maybe even by the end of the year.”
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in a separate interview with Euronews in Yerevan on July 26, also expressed cautious optimism. He stated, “Not only can there be but there must be peace. This is my belief, my position… But for this to happen, it’s also important for the international community to be aware of important nuances, to be clear about why there isn’t progress at a sufficient pace.”
Addressing the humanitarian crisis, Pashinyan accused Azerbaijan of blocking the transit of food and medicines to Karabakh through the Lachin corridor, the only road connecting Armenia to the enclave. Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev denied these allegations, asserting that more than 2,000 Karabakh residents had moved “to Armenia and back” since Azerbaijan established a border checkpoint at the entrance to the corridor in April. Aliyev also emphasized that Karabakh Armenians can lead a normal life as part of Azerbaijani society, with their rights protected.
While Russia, the United States, and the European Union are each making separate efforts to facilitate a lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Pashinyan highlighted the impact of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine on international attention towards the Karabakh issue.
(Writing by Gareth Jones; Editing by Conor Humphries)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
