FM: Azerbaijan, Armenia experiencing most peaceful and stable period

Azerbaijan and Armenia are currently experiencing the most peaceful and stable period in their bilateral relations, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov stated on Thursday, December 4, in Vienna during the 32nd Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council.

Bayramov noted that both sides are taking necessary steps to implement concrete measures across various levels — government, parliamentary, and civil society — to give additional momentum to the peace process.

“As a gesture of goodwill, Azerbaijan has unilaterally lifted restrictions on the transit of goods to Armenia. These achievements clearly demonstrate that direct bilateral negotiations are the best way to move forward. Azerbaijan has consistently advocated this approach for many years. Our country, as the initiator of the peace agenda, remains committed to this path and expects mutual political will and responsibility from Armenia,” Bayramov said.

He added that since December of last year, significant progress has been made in post-conflict normalization between Baku and Yerevan, culminating in the historic peace summit in Washington on August 8.

“The summit of leaders in Washington resulted in the adoption of a joint declaration by the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia, signed in the presence of US President Donald Trump. The parties pledged that the conflict remains in the past, is not and will not be subject to any attempt at revision, and they are now moving forward to build good-neighborly relations based on this reality,” he noted.

Bayramov also thanked Finland, as the current OSCE Chair, the OSCE Secretariat, all member states, and the Council of Ministers for promptly deciding to close the Minsk Process.

He added that as a result, “peace has effectively been established in a previously unstable OSCE region.”

The minister further highlighted the timely implementation of the “Trump Route” project (TRIPP) — a 42-kilometre section of the Zangezur Corridor that will pass through Armenian territory — as being of paramount importance for the South Caucasus region.

Bayramov emphasized that this multimodal route will include a railway, a highway, and other communications.

“TRIPP should ensure seamless connectivity between the main part of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, while also benefiting Armenia. As has been repeatedly stated, the significance of opening communications in the region is not limited to ensuring lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan but also carries substantial benefits on a much broader scale,” the Azerbaijani foreign minister said.

By Tamilla Hasanova