One should act based on İlham Aliyev statements in Shusha: Ex US envoy

On April 22-23, the V Congress of Azerbaijanis of the World, the Victory Congress, was held in Shusha. Speaking at the opening of the event, President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev made important statements regarding the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, outlined a roadmap for the Azerbaijanis of the world in accordance with the post-conflict period. 

Former US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Robert Sekuta told Trend that it is necessary to act on the basis of President Ilham Aliyev's statements in Shusha for normalization of relations between Baku and Yerevan. "Today, the issue of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia is on the agenda, there is a need for the sake of the future of the region. President Ilham Aliyev stressed that the Armenian leadership has officially declared that it recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, there are no territorial claims against Azerbaijan, and there will not be in the future," Sekuta said.

According to him, the settlement of relations between the two countries will take time and determination. "President Ilham Aliyev also said that the ministers and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries are currently establishing working groups and it is necessary to start concrete negotiations in the near future. It is necessary to highlight these statements of the Head of State and act accordingly. Building trust, confidence and peace after decades of conflict will not be easy. It will take time and determination on both sides," Sekuta said.

In turn, the former co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group (MG) from the United States, Richard Hoagland, believes that the post-conflict period in the region has its difficulties - like any period after such conflicts. Hoagland stated that it takes time for emotions to fade away.

"The period after the Karabakh war is even more difficult because the conflict has existed for many decades, emotions on both sides have been and continue to be strong. It is necessary to be patient, not to make demands publicly, but to seek solutions in private. Over time, measured in months or even years, emotions begin to cool down, opportunities for solving problems appear. This type of diplomacy offers solutions that really lead to peace and prosperity for the nations of both countries and the entire region," Hoagland said.