President Aliyev: Azerbaijan, Armenia are learning to live in peace after Washington declaration UPDATED

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has said that the South Caucasus is still in an early phase of post-conflict normalisation, stressing that stability has been achieved following last year’s agreements.

Speaking via video link at the 8th European Political Community Summit, the head of state recalled that the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a joint declaration in Washington last August at the White House, marking a significant step towards peace, Caliber.Az reports, citing state media.

“We have lived in peace for only nine months and we are learning to live in peace,” Aliyev said.

He noted that following the establishment of peace, Azerbaijan unilaterally lifted all transit restrictions imposed on Armenia since the early 1990s.

According to the president, practical steps have already been taken to facilitate economic cooperation and regional connectivity. He said that large volumes of goods have been transported to Armenia via Azerbaijani territory, underlining a shift in regional logistics after decades of closure.

“Twenty-eight thousand tons of cargo to Armenia were delivered through the territory of Azerbaijan,” Aliyev underlined.

President Aliyev also highlighted the beginning of energy supplies to Armenia, describing it as a new development in bilateral economic interaction. Emphasising that Azerbaijan has started to supply oil products, gasoline, and diesel to Armenia for the first time, the head of state highlighted that, so far, 12,000 tons of oil products have been exported to Armenia.

Expanding on the benefits of the emerging peace, the Azerbaijani leader underscored the importance of regional connectivity projects.

“Another achievement of peace is connectivity. The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity will connect Azerbaijan with its exclave Nakhchivan; moreover, this route will be part of the Middle Corridor,” President Aliyev said.

“Both Armenia and Azerbaijan already see the practical benefits of peace,” the head of state added.

President Ilham Aliyev also touched upon developments in Karabakh and Azerbaijan’s position on international institutions.

“In September 2023, Azerbaijan put an end to separatism in Garabagh. We ourselves implemented the four UN Security Council resolutions adopted in 1993, which remained on paper for 30 years. Four months after that, PACE imposed sanctions on our delegation,” Aliyev stressed.

“Unfortunately, double standards are today a kind of modus operandi for PACE. Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity has the same value as that of any other country. In this issue, double standards are unacceptable,” the head of state emphasised.