German president: Karabakh is Azerbaijan

During a joint press conference with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier reaffirmed Germany's unwavering support for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, specifically regarding the issue of Karabakh.

Steinmeier emphasized that Germany’s position on the matter has been consistent, underscoring that Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

“We have always maintained that this is your [Azerbaijani] territory, and today we reaffirm Germany’s stance,” Steinmeier stated in response to a question about the absence of actions taken against Armenia for its prolonged occupation of Azerbaijani lands.

Steinmeier's visit to Baku, which included discussions on regional stability and economic collaboration, highlighted Germany's growing interest in Azerbaijan's role as a pivotal transport hub connecting Europe, Central Asia, the Far East, and China. He noted that Azerbaijan’s strategic location offers significant potential for enhancing trade and transportation links, particularly through the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor.

“Berlin strongly supports the development of cooperation in transportation. Azerbaijan can play a key role in expanding our transportation connections with Central Asia and China. From this perspective, the Middle Corridor is an important project for Germany's economy,” Steinmeier stated.

The German President also emphasized the importance of ensuring sustainable peace and stability in the South Caucasus, noting that such conditions would contribute greatly to the economic growth and prosperity of the region.

In addition to the discussions on transportation and regional cooperation, Steinmeier congratulated Azerbaijan and Armenia for their recent agreement on the text of a peace treaty. He expressed his hope that the two countries would swiftly sign the agreement, urging both governments to seize the opportunity for lasting peace.

Steinmeier also said that Azerbaijan and Armenia will need time to restore mutual trust.

“We realize that it takes time and effort to restore mutual trust. This is a very long process. Both countries and peoples will need a lot more time. Reconciliation will take time and we should not miss it,” he said.

He said the first step for reconciliation between the two countries is the signing of a peace treaty.

“I think that the conditions mentioned (for signing the peace treaty) are feasible and both sides will come to an agreement and the barriers to peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be removed,” the German president added.

He further went on to say that in 2022, when there were disruptions in Russian gas supplies, Azerbaijan undertook to provide Germany with the necessary volumes.

He recalled the history of relations between the countries, noting that German winemakers made a significant contribution to the development of this agricultural sector, while German companies participated in oil production and the creation of the energy system.

“Many Germans lived in Azerbaijan. It is very important to refer to our history,” the president said, emphasizing that historical ties are very important for understanding current relations between the countries.

Steinmeier noted that there is great interest in Azerbaijan in learning German language and receiving education in Germany, “Therefore, we should expand our cooperation in educational and scientific fields.”

The German President also pointed to the prospects for economic interaction and the commitment of both countries to the norms of international law.

By Khagan Isayev