Azerbaijan, Armenia make encouraging step forward - former ambassador

Former US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, retired Ambassador Richard Hoagland has said that Azerbaijan and Armenia have made an encouraging step forward.

“The joint statement by the presidential administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the office of the prime minister of the Republic of Armenia is a most welcome and encouraging step forward, especially because it was reached by both sides without third-party assistance or mediation,” Hoagland told Trend.

Hoagland pointed out that while outside powers can offer encouragement, a true and lasting peace that will be implemented for the long term will ultimately have to come solely from Baku and Yerevan themselves.

“Both Armenia and Azerbaijan are indeed moving in that direction and should be applauded because their work together, and their increasing mutual trust, will lead to enhanced peace, security, and prosperity for the entire South Caucasus region,” he concluded.

To recap, on December 7, the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration and the Office of the Armenian Prime Minister Armenia released a joint statement, saying that the two countries “share the view that there is a historical chance to achieve a long-awaited peace in the region. Two countries reconfirm their intention to normalize relations and to reach a peace treaty based on respect for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Following the talks between the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration and the Office of the Armenian Prime Minister, an agreement has been reached on taking tangible steps towards building confidence between the two countries.

Moreover, an agreement has been reached to release 32 individuals of Armenian origin by Azerbaijan and two Azerbaijani servicemen by Armenia as a sign of goodwill and humanism, the statement said.

The 32 individuals destined for return to Armenia, 26 of whom were arrested during anti-terror measures in the Hadrut direction in December 2020, with the remaining six detained at the border on different occasions, have already served the majority of their sentences.

The agreement has been reached through direct negotiations between the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration and the Office of the Armenian Prime Minister with no involvement of a third country.