President Aliyev: Recent contacts reshape Azerbaijan-Armenia normalisation climate

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has highlighted ongoing positive developments in the normalisation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, underlining that recent contacts are helping to build a more constructive environment during a joint press statement with Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs on April 22.

The head of state noted that mutual visits and meetings between civil society and media representatives from both countries have intensified, stressing that such engagement plays a key role in fostering a more normal atmosphere between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Caliber.Az reports, citing the state agency.

“Since that time (the signing of the Joint Declaration at the White House - ed.), there have been a lot of positive dynamics in the peace process, including beginning of trade, particularly supply of fuel products from Azerbaijan to Armenia,” Aliyev noted.

Expanding on the broader diplomatic context, President Ilham Aliyev also informed his Latvian counterpart about the current stage of the peace process, pointing out that a de facto peace has already taken shape between the two countries. He recalled that both leaders had been invited to the White House last year, where a Joint Declaration was signed, with the document’s text initialled by the foreign ministers.

Touching on bilateral ties with Latvia, the Azerbaijani leader expressed confidence in the future trajectory of cooperation.

“I'm sure that the Latvian President’s visit will create new opportunities for cooperation in different areas,” President Ilham Aliyev stressed.

He added that discussions with President Edgars Rinkēvičs covered a wide range of issues, both in one-on-one and expanded formats, encompassing key elements of the bilateral agenda as well as matters of international importance.

By Jeyhun Aghazada