Baku underscores peace commitment as relations with Armenia develop

Normalisation of relations with Armenia after years of conflict demonstrates Baku’s commitment to peace and stability in the region, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department Hikmet Hajiyev said.

Addressing the General Assembly of the Global South NGO Platform, Hajiyev stated that Azerbaijan, as part of the Global South, has firsthand experience of occupation and military aggression, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

“Just six years ago, about 20 percent of our country’s territory was under occupation. Azerbaijan experienced foreign military aggression, occupation, destruction of cultural monuments, ethnic cleansing, and large-scale destruction of cities,” he said.

He also noted that nearly 13 percent of the country’s territory remains contaminated with landmines, describing it as a heavy legacy of occupation.

“However, we have been able to put an end to this, restore our sovereignty and territorial integrity, and begin a process of cooperation and engagement with neighbouring Armenia,” Hajiyev stated.

He added that this reflects Azerbaijan’s goodwill, its pursuit of peace, and its readiness to take responsibility for shaping new realities in the South Caucasus.

By Jeyhun Aghazada