Italian Embassy: Azerbaijani-Armenian joint statement bold step towards peace

Italian Embassy in Azerbaijan has said that the joint statement of Azerbaijan and Armenia is a bold step towards long-awaited peace.

“The joint statement by Azerbaijan and Armenia is a courageous step towards long-awaited peace. Dialogue to be supported decisively for the normalization of relations between Baku and Yerevan and hope for the rapid conclusion of a peace agreement,” the embassy wrote on X, Caliber.Az reports.

La dichiarazione congiunta di 🇦🇿 e 🇦🇲 è un passo coraggioso verso una pacificazione a lungo attesa. Dialogo da sostenere con decisione per la normalizzazione dei rapporti tra Baku e Jerevan e auspicio per la rapida conclusione di un accordo di pacehttps://t.co/irpN8skCH3

— Italy in Baku (@ItalyinBaku) December 8, 2023

On December 7, the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration and the Office of the Armenian Prime Minister Armenia released a joint statement, saying that the two countries “share the view that there is a historical chance to achieve a long-awaited peace in the region. Two countries reconfirm their intention to normalize relations and to reach a peace treaty based on respect for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Following the talks between the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration and the Office of the Armenian Prime Minister, an agreement has been reached on taking tangible steps towards building confidence between the two countries.

Moreover, an agreement has been reached to release 32 individuals of Armenian origin by Azerbaijan and two Azerbaijani servicemen by Armenia as a sign of goodwill and humanism, the statement said.

The 32 individuals destined for return to Armenia, 26 of whom were arrested during anti-terror measures in the Hadrut direction in December 2020, with the remaining six detained at the border on different occasions, have already served the majority of their sentences.

The agreement has been reached through direct negotiations between the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration and the Office of the Armenian Prime Minister with no involvement of the third country.