On December 7, Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed on further steps to normalize relations and establish peace, including the exchange of prisoners and the continuation of negotiations on a peace agreement.
Source: ” European Truth ”
Details: In a joint statement, the offices of the Prime Minister of Armenia and the President of Azerbaijan agree that “a historic opportunity has arisen to achieve the long-awaited peace in the region” and the intention to reach a peace treaty “based on respect for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
For reasons of humanity and “as a gesture of goodwill”, Azerbaijan agreed to release 32 Armenian servicemen, and Armenia – two Azerbaijani ones.
In addition, Yerevan decided to withdraw the request to hold the next UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in favour of Baku and called on other countries of the Eastern European region to support Azerbaijan.
In response, Azerbaijan supports Armenia’s candidacy for membership in the Bureau of the East European Group of States COP.
“Armenia and Azerbaijan will continue negotiations on the implementation of additional confidence-building measures shortly, and call on the international community to support their efforts, which will contribute to the establishment of mutual trust between the two countries and have a positive impact on the entire South Caucasus region,” the statement concluded.
The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia has been going on for decades. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, they fought for the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which was predominantly populated by Armenians and, according to international law, belongs to Azerbaijan.
In September, Azerbaijan regained control over Nagorno-Karabakh in a one-day military operation. After her, more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians left the region, almost its entire population.
Years of mediation by the EU, the US and Russia failed to force Armenia and Azerbaijan to sign a peace agreement. Both have not agreed on the demarcation of the common border, where border skirmishes often occur.
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