Secretary General of Council of Europe: Armenia and Azerbaijan: A milestone on the road to lasting peace

“I warmly welcome the initialing of the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement in Washington D.C., which paves the way towards a final settlement of the long-standing conflict between the countries – both member states of the Council since 2001,” Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset said in his statement.

“This development marks a historic milestone towards lasting peace in the South Caucasus, a region whose stability is vital for the prosperity and security of all its peoples, including in Georgia. The Council of Europe stands ready to support Armenia and Azerbaijan as they turn this page in their shared history.”

“In March, when the two countries announced the finalization of negotiations on the draft Agreement on Peace and Establishment of Interstate Relations, I was particularly encouraged. The peace effort remained a constant topic of discussion with both leaders. I first addressed it with President Ilham Aliyev in Baku last year on the occasion of the COP, and continued to do so during my bilateral meeting with him at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in April. I also conveyed a message of strong support directly to both Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Ilham Aliyev during the European Political Community Summit in Tirana in May, and reiterated it most recently during my official visit to Yerevan,” the Secretary General emphasized.

“I commend the leaders and citizens of both nations for the political will, perseverance, and courage they have shown in working towards a just and lasting peace. Overcoming decades of mistrust, territorial disputes, and humanitarian challenges demands difficult but necessary compromises on all sides. We encourage both countries to do their utmost to continue advancing towards peace,” Berset added.