Sochi, 1 December 2021 (TDI): The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, pledged efforts to work for peace and ensure border stability. Both Mandataries met the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, in Sochi on 26 November.
Aliyev, Pashinyan, and Putin discussed the implementation of the complete ceasefire, and cessation of hostilities. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed that statement in November 2020 and covered the zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Aliyev, Pashinyan, and Putin also discussed the relevant implementation of the statement made in January 2021. That statement was to lift the blocks on economic and transport communications in the region.
The Mandataries reaffirmed their commitment to implement those two statements, due to their interests in security, stability, and economic development. They also agreed to intensify joint efforts towards the earliest solution of the tasks of both statements.
Aliyev and Pashinyan acknowledged the contribution of the Russian Peacekeeping contingent to the stabilization of the region. According to them, the contingent also helped to ensure security. The Mandataries then expressed that in the meeting they reached an agreement on the steps to take to increase security and stability in their borders.
Aliyev, Pashinyan, and Putin also agreed to take steps to create a bilateral Commission on the delimitation of the state border between Azerbaijan, and Armenia. That subsequent demarcation had the consultative assistance of Russia, at the request of both countries.
The Mandataries also emphasized the need to launch projects to unlock the economic potential of the region. Putin remarked that Russia will continue to provide assistance to normalize relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. That assistance will also be to nurture trust between both and build good-neighborly relations.
STATEMENTS OF THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT.
Putin thanked his counterparts because both agreed to discuss the situation. He then added that their talks were very constructive, as it was a deep analysis of the situation. Regarding the border demarcation, Putin remarked that they agreed to establish mechanisms for it, and complete the work by the end of the year.
He also mentioned that regarding humanitarian issues, as they made progress in that area. Then, Putin stated that they discussed economic issues, to develop economic ties, and to lift the blockades on transport corridors.
Finally, the Russian President thanked the Deputy Prime Ministers for their hard work to solve the situation and mentioned that the deputies will meet in Moscow next week. In that meeting, the deputies announce the decisions that the Mandataries took.
STATEMENT OF THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN
First, The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev thanked his Russian counterpart for their efforts to solve the issues between both countries. Aliyev remarked that a year has passed since the end of the war by the Trilateral Statement. According to Aliyev, Azerbaijan looks 2021 to be a positive year.
Aliyev also thanked his Russian counterparts for the efforts of the Russian peacekeeping contingent. He then added that it was the second meeting between the three over the year, and there they discussed the plans that causes concern to both parties. According to Aliyev, the decisions that the parties took to settle arguments and disputes. Aliyev then added that those decisions will contribute to stabilizing the South Caucasus.
Putin also noted that the three parties discussed humanitarian issues. Aliyev also acknowledged that Azerbaijan had returned 100 Armenian servicemen to their country. Among those servicemen that returned to Armenia received treatment from Azerbaijani Doctors and a civilian that got lost.
Aliyev remarked that those actions meant that Azerbaijan proceeded towards the direction of the humanism primacy principle. The Azerbaijani President also mentioned that he saw the same commitment from the Armenian counterpart. He then added that Azerbaijan is ready to turn the page after a long-standing confrontation and normalize relations with Armenia.
Aliyev then stated that Russia is a strategic partner for Azerbaijan and the level of trust in their relations contributed to finding a solution on issues with Armenia.
STATEMENTS OF THE ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER
The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, thanked his Russian counterpart for the invitation. Pashinyan then acknowledged that the meeting created a positive working atmosphere. According to Pashinyan, the meeting openly discussed all issues, and that they clarified their positions.
He then added that because they clarified their positions, they noticed that they didn’t have disagreements on issues that seemed to exist before the meeting. Pashinyan mentioned that regarding the reopening of economic routes, both have a common understanding of how to operate those routes.
Regarding the delimitation of borders, the Armenian Mandatary stated that the parties adopted the Trilateral Statement. According to Pashinyan, that Statement says that to delimitate the borders, they need to establish conditions. Those conditions consist of establishing security and stability mechanisms on the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Pashinyan then stated that thanks to the Russian initiative, both Armenia and Azerbaijan can expect real results. He also reaffirmed the willingness of Armenia to usher to the era of peaceful development both for the country and also the region.
FINAL RUSSIAN PRESENT
The Russian President then mentioned that Russia had a gift for Azerbaijan and Armenia, an olive branch, which is an international symbol associated with peace. Putin then expressed his hope to have a positive outcome from the meeting, to create the conditions and normalize the relations in the South Caucasus.
