President Aliyev: "Now, we have a common understanding of how the peace agreement should look like" LIVE/UPDATED

An international forum on "COP29 and Green Vision for Azerbaijan" is being held at ADA University in Baku on April 23.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is attending the forum, Azertag reports.

Talking about the possible signing of a peace deal with Armenia, President Aliyev said: “We are close and maybe closer than ever before [signing of a peace agreement]. Because we've never been close during the times of occupation. We could not agree on basic principles at that time."

“Those famous Madrid principles, we could not even agree on that. We did not even have a draft of a peace agreement at that time. But now we have it. Now, we have a common understanding of how the peace agreement should look like. We only need to address the details, but of course, both sides need time,” the head of state emphasized.

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An international forum on "COP29 and Green Vision for Azerbaijan" is being held at ADA University in Baku on April 23.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is attending the forum, Azertag reports.

Highlighting Azerbaijan's significant partnership with members of the Eurasian Economic Union, excluding Armenia, President Aliyev said: “It’s true that we have been invited to participate in some of the events of the Eurasian Economic Union at the level of President and at the level of Prime Minister."

“I participated once as a guest of honor. Actually, with all the countries that are members of the Eurasian Union except Armenia, Azerbaijan has a very close partnership relationship,” the head of state emphasized.

“Azerbaijan's economy is actually a self-sufficient economy and it demonstrates sustainable growth even in the period of crisis,” the president said.

“We have very low foreign debt, which is now even below 8% of our GDP,” the head of state underlined.

“We really want COP29 to be successful from the point of view of tackling the issues of climate change. At the same time, it's an opportunity to tell our story,” said President Ilham Aliyev.

“And you are absolutely right that we have a lot of things to tell to the world and to tell the truth. I think one of the advantages of being a host country is that we will receive tens of thousands of people. Most of them will visit us for the first time,” the head of state underlined.

“I think that this agenda will lead to strengthening of security measures in the Caucasus, I mean, in the Southern Caucasus in general, and will create opportunities for at least consultations among three Southern Caucasian countries, which lead the way to future cooperation,” said President Ilham Aliyev.

“I think it's a unique chance now. We've been deprived of that since the collapse of the Soviet Union, unlike the Baltic States, which started their independent journey in a peaceful environment while we had wars. So now, it's a chance to turn that page, and we're doing it, and I think COP29 is an excellent example,” the President of Azerbaijan noted.

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An international forum on "COP29 and Green Vision for Azerbaijan" is being held at ADA University in Baku on April 23.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is attending the forum, Azertag reports.

Addressing the forum, President Aliyev said: “Last time we met here in the beginning of last December. Many things have happened since that time in Azerbaijan and around. I would say that all of these events develop in a positive direction, whether it's the process of normalization between Azerbaijan and Armenia, border delimitation, or if we talk about COP29."

Highlighting the importance of hosting COP29 in Azerbaijan, the president noted: “Of course, it's a sign of big respect and support to Azerbaijan from the international community.”

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An international forum on "COP29 and Green Vision for Azerbaijan" is being held at ADA University in Baku on April 23.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is attending the forum, Azertag reports.