Council of Europe chief hails meeting with President Aliyev, praises breakthrough in peace process

Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset highlighted the significant progress achieved in the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, stressing the importance of the Washington-brokered agreement for the entire region.

Speaking to a domestic media correspondent, Berset noted that the peace agreement, initialled on  August 8 in Washington with the participation of the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia and witnessed by the US President, represents a milestone not only for the peoples of both countries but also for regional stability.

“Considering everything that is happening within the framework of this peace process, I can say that this is a very positive development, and we are sincerely pleased to see this progress. We are, of course, closely following events in Washington. As you know, the Council of Europe has been working with all member states, including Azerbaijan and Armenia, for many years. This means that the Council of Europe is the right platform for ongoing dialogue between countries. The opportunity for dialogue exists, and that is why we have always strongly supported this peace process. I personally maintain regular contact with President Ilham Aliyev,” he said.

Berset spoke warmly of his latest meeting with President Aliyev at the UN headquarters in New York during High-Level Week.

“We had a very successful meeting, during which we discussed issues related to the peace process. I am also in contact with the Prime Minister of Armenia. This is important for achieving progress, understanding our common prospects and identifying ways to develop cooperation. The peace achievements supported by Azerbaijan and Armenia are a great success. We must not only appreciate them highly, but also see them as new opportunities for expanding cooperation. Stability, peace and predictability are necessary in today’s world, but in many places this is not evident. That is why we must participate in these processes. It is truly gratifying to see the signing of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the restoration of ties. This opens up new prospects for deeper cooperation,” he underlined.

The Secretary General added that, in his role, he has frequently visited the South Caucasus to promote peacebuilding opportunities.

“I would like to emphasise once again that the South Caucasus is a very important region for the Council of Europe. That is why, in recent months and years, we have visited all the countries in the region, cooperated closely and never forgotten this context. We take into account how member states work, how cooperation is built and steps are taken to ensure stability. We need all possible institutions to work together. There must be transparency. We must achieve clear goals together. Working together, mutual recognition and constant cooperation are the best way to ensure stability. The world is changing and will continue to change. The question is how to ensure stability, relations and cooperation in a rapidly changing world. This means that we need a European organisation, but at the same time all three countries of the South Caucasus – Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia – are members of the Council of Europe. This allows us to cooperate and work together on a daily basis. The meeting with President Aliyev was very successful. It is clear to us that breaking ties, refusing to cooperate or turning our backs on each other is never a good solution. The best option is always to work together, recognise differences, cooperate and follow a common path. This is the best way to ensure the best conditions for our people,” Berset concluded.

By Tamilla Hasanova