After months of impasse and extreme tensions, discussions between Armenia and Azerbaijan, in conflict for more than thirty years for control of the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, have made a notable breakthrough. In a joint declaration, Thursday, December 7, the two countries promised “concrete measures” to normalize their relations, and reaffirmed their intention to “sign a peace agreement”. They also agreed on the release of thirty-two Armenian prisoners of war, in exchange for that of two Azerbaijani soldiers.
Russia, the European Union and the United States, which have been conducting parallel negotiations for months to advance the discussions, all welcomed the announcement. Moscow said it was ready to “provide assistance to unblock transport routes, demarcate the border, conclude a peace agreement and establish contacts with civil society”. The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, welcomed this “major advance”, while the United States welcomed the exchange of prisoners, which “represents an important measure of confidence”.
“Successful secret negotiations”
Turkey, an ally of Azerbaijan, also expressed its satisfaction and said it would like the signature ” as soon as possible “ of a peace agreement, which will be “one of the most important developments to establish lasting peace and stability in the South Caucasus”. Ankara, which has never recognized the Armenian genocide of 1915, is also trying to normalize its relations with Armenia.
According to Richard Giragosian, director of the Regional Studies Center in Yerevan, the unusual joint declaration by Baku and Yerevan represents an “real breakthrough” because it is the result of “successful secret negotiations, without assistance from Washington or Brussels”. The exchange of prisoners also marks progress ” impressive “even if it is a promise made months earlier and “who should have intervened before”.
Armenia and Azerbaijan resumed discussions at the end of November on the delimitation of their common border, another point of friction. Both countries are now expected to implement “additional confidence-building measures”, according to the press release. They call on the international community to support their efforts, which will contribute to “strengthen mutual trust” between the two States and will have a “positive impact” throughout the South Caucasus.
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