Former Israeli prime minister supports Azerbaijan’s peace efforts in South Caucasus

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has expressed strong support for Azerbaijan's efforts to achieve lasting peace in the South Caucasus, following the recent completion of peace treaty text coordination between Baku and Yerevan.

Olmert commended the progress in the peace process, acknowledging the significant efforts that have led to tangible advancements, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

"I am very pleased with the progress in the peace process. Thanks to exceptional efforts, things are moving forward," Olmert said. He also praised Armenia's serious consideration of signing the peace treaty, stating, "It is also gratifying that Armenia is seriously considering signing a peace treaty."

Olmert emphasized the human cost of armed conflict, highlighting that any conflict adversely impacts people and that the strides being made toward peace bring hope for the future. However, he also voiced criticism of the political actions taken by European structures regarding Azerbaijan.

"If an international court had made any decision against Azerbaijan, that's one thing. But the political steps of European structures, you know, look strange," Olmert remarked, suggesting that European leaders and the European Parliament should reconsider their approach and act with greater balance.

Commenting on bilateral relations, Olmert reaffirmed that the relationship between Israel and Azerbaijan remains strong and stable. "Whatever government we have, it will always maintain good relations with Azerbaijan, I promise you," he said. "Our relations depend not on governments, but on the friendship of our peoples."

Olmert also reflected on his time as Israel's Prime Minister, noting that he met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev multiple times. He expressed his gratitude for the trust and cooperation between the two countries, particularly in areas such as security, economics, and energy.

"I am grateful for many things we achieved together, which I cannot talk about in detail. This includes security, economic, and energy cooperation. This was very important for us," he concluded.

By Vafa Guliyeva