Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev lauded the peace with Armenia on Thursday, saying that peace has been established “not only on paper.”
He made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 13th Global Baku Forum.
“I have repeatedly stated that we have achieved peace with Armenia not only on paper. Seven months ago, the peace agreement was initialed and a joint statement was adopted. At the same time, we are living in a real world of peace. The situation on the border is calm, there are no longer any exchanges of fire, and there are no casualties or losses.
The 28-year mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group failed. The goal of the co-chairs was not to resolve the conflict but to freeze it and use it as leverage over the two countries. Therefore, we concluded that this mediation should be abandoned.
This is not merely a theory but real experience. We have lived through it, and today we see its results. Therefore, I believe this experience will certainly be taken into account when seeking solutions to existing conflicts,” the President of Azerbaijan said in his remarks, according to APA news agency.
Aliyev also stated that peace with Azerbaijan will allow Armenia to become a transit country.
“We are closely working on the expansion of the Middle Corridor, which also passes through the territory of Armenia. For the first time in the history of its independence, Armenia could become a transit country. It is not yet one. Thanks to this, we will be able to establish a direct connection between the main part of Azerbaijan and our exclave, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic,” he said.
He also noted that Azerbaijan has removed restrictions on the transportation of goods entering Armenia from different directions.
“We have lifted restrictions on the transportation of goods entering Armenia from various directions. We have resumed trade and significant exports of petroleum products to this country,” Aliyev added.
