EU voices strong support for Armenia-Azerbaijan normalisation deals

The Delegation of the European Union to the Council of Europe has issued a statement backing the recent agreements between Azerbaijan and Armenia aimed at normalising bilateral relations.

The statement emphasised the EU’s welcome of the August 8 agreement reached by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the White House, in the presence of former U.S. President Donald Trump, Caliber.Az reports via the website of the European External Action Service (EEAS).

The EU called the agreement “a significant breakthrough to end decades of conflict.”

The statement highlighted the importance of timely implementation of the agreed steps, particularly the signing and ratification of a formal peace treaty. “Following the finalisation of bilateral Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations on the text of the peace agreement last March, this represents an important and decisive next step towards full-fledged normalisation of relations,” the EEAS said.

The EU stressed that the process should be based on mutual recognition of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of borders in line with the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration. Once implemented, these steps are expected to foster the overall peaceful development of the region and bring societies divided by decades of conflict closer to sustainable peace and shared prosperity.

The statement also noted that momentum is being maintained, with Council of Europe Secretary General Berset confirming the organisation’s readiness to support both countries in advancing this historic process.

“The EU fully supports the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalisation process and has been working for years with both parties and our international partners to create the conditions for lasting peace,” the EEAS added. “We continue to stand ready to work with partners towards full-fledged normalisation, providing additional support and expertise, including for the practical implementation of next steps.”

By Khagan Isayev