President Aliyev: German president’s visit to give new impetus to bilateral ties UPDATED

President Ilham Aliyev has expressed confidence that the recent visit of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Azerbaijan will serve as a catalyst for strengthening bilateral relations. 

Speaking at a joint press conference with his German counterpart, President Aliyev stated, “I am fully confident that this visit will give a new positive impetus to our relations,” Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Highlighting the economic strides made by both nations, President Aliyev noted a significant increase in trade between Azerbaijan and Germany. “The results achieved in the economic sector naturally inspire us, as in the first two months of this year, our trade turnover has increased nearly threefold,” he said.

The Azerbaijani head of state also underscored the potential for collaboration in the renewable energy sector, where German expertise is well established. “Azerbaijan has very ambitious programs and plans in the renewable energy sector, where German companies have extensive experience,” he remarked.

President Aliyev further elaborated on Azerbaijan’s renewable energy ambitions, stating, “We intend to increase the production capacity of renewable energy sources to 6 gigawatts by 2030 through foreign investments, and this is entirely realistic. A portion of this will be exported to Europe.”

President Aliyev also highlighted the significance of President Steinmeier’s visit, noting its historical importance in Azerbaijan-Germany relations. “This is the first official visit of the President of Germany to Azerbaijan in the history of our bilateral relations, and I am confident that the outcomes of this visit will bring our countries even closer together.”

Discussing regional developments, President Aliyev emphasized the progress in peace negotiations with Armenia. “Our historic victory has paved the way for peace talks, and I believe that today the positions of Azerbaijan and Armenia on achieving peace have come quite close to each other,” he stated.

During a joint press conference, President Aliyev provided his German counterpart with a comprehensive overview of Azerbaijan’s peace efforts. “During our discussion today, I provided Mr. President with comprehensive information about the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process. I stated that following the end of the Second Karabakh War, Azerbaijan, and myself personally, initiated the start of peace negotiations. At that time, neither Armenia nor the OSCE Minsk Group, which was still active, put forward such a proposal. This proposal came from the Azerbaijani side. This in itself demonstrates how interested we are in concluding a peace agreement,” he emphasized.

President Aliyev pointed out that until January 2024, Armenia insisted on including the so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" in the peace agreement. “This does not exist and only lived in Armenia's fantasies. The Karabakh region of Azerbaijan exists,” he stated.

German President Steinmeier welcomed Azerbaijan’s efforts toward peace, stressing the importance of finalizing an agreement. “The peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan is of great importance,” he noted, congratulating Azerbaijan on its progress. “A crucial moment has arrived to reach an agreement. I hope this opportunity will be seized, a peace treaty will be signed, and lasting peace will be established in your region. I have great hopes for this.”

Steinmeier reaffirmed Germany’s willingness to support the peace process, underlining Berlin’s commitment to regional stability.

President Aliyev also addressed the specifics of the peace treaty, stating, “To date, the text of the peace treaty consisting of 17 paragraphs has been fully agreed upon. Azerbaijan is not putting forward any additional conditions here. Our conditions are known to Armenia; they are not new. We have been putting forward these conditions for a long time. However, we have not received any serious response from Armenia to date.”

Outlining Azerbaijan’s key demands, Aliyev emphasized the need for the OSCE Minsk Group’s dissolution and changes to Armenia’s constitution. “First, the OSCE Minsk Group must be dissolved,” he said.

He further explained, “The second issue concerns the Armenian constitution. There is a reference to the Armenian act of independence in the Armenian constitution. This is an integral part of that constitution. It contains a provision about the unification of Azerbaijan's legal and historical territory with Armenia, and this is considered an open territorial claim against us. Therefore, the removal of this clause from the Armenian constitution is our legitimate demand. Once these two conditions are met, there will be no obstacles to signing the peace treaty. As they say, the ball is in Armenia's court. If Armenia genuinely wants to sign a peace treaty, it must accept these two legitimate conditions of Azerbaijan.”

By Vugar Khalilov