President Aliyev highlights current state of Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process in Budapest UPDATED

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has addressed the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process and bilateral ties with Hungary in a press statement alongside Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán in Budapest on May 20.

Speaking on the peace efforts following the 2020 Second Karabakh War, President Aliyev underscored Baku’s role as the initiator of the negotiations and the drafter of the proposed peace agreement, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

“Following the Second Karabakh War, it was we who initiated the peace talks, and we were also the authors of the draft peace agreement. It is precisely this text that has now been accepted by Armenia — naturally, with some amendments. But in principle, the proposal we put forward has now been accepted by Armenia,” President Aliyev said.

President Aliyev also highlighted the strength of Azerbaijani-Hungarian relations: “Hungary-Azerbaijan relations are developing successfully. We are friendly countries and strategic partners.” 

He noted the historical and economic foundations of this partnership, with particular emphasis on the energy sector.

“We are successfully cooperating in the energy sector. Hungarian companies hold shares in Azerbaijan’s two major oil and gas projects – the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli and Shah Deniz fields. A new contract will be signed at the beginning of next year,” Aliyev stated.

Further expanding on energy cooperation, he added: “A Hungarian company will begin operations in Azerbaijan’s onshore oil fields. Since last year, we have started exporting natural gas to Hungary, and today I emphasized — as the Prime Minister also noted — that we are capable of supplying the volume of gas required by Hungary.”

President Aliyev also praised Hungary for its independent stance within the European Union, highlighting Prime Minister Orbán’s commitment to national sovereignty.

“Hungary is one of the few countries that pursues an independent policy. Especially within the framework of the European Union, conducting an independent policy is quite challenging,” the head of state noted.

The head of state continued: “There are many rules, many established principles, and the common foreign policy of the European Union is naturally one of those principles. Nevertheless, my friend Viktor Orbán has always prioritized Hungary’s state and national interests above all else. We welcome that.”

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, for his part, expressed deep appreciation for Azerbaijan’s longstanding support. 

“Today, we see an old friend of Hungary. A friend is known in difficult times, and for more than 20 years, President Aliyev has always stood by our side during any difficulty Hungary has faced in any field — whether diplomacy, the oil and gas industry, or other areas,” Orbán said.

The prime minister also noted that Hungary will host the Summit of the Organization of Turkic States for the first time in history: “We are not a full member of this organization; we are an observer country. However, today we are hosting this Summit.”

By Khagan Isayev