In anticipation of the proclaimed peace

This past Saturday witnessed a series of statements from both Yerevan and Baku, reaffirming their dedication to achieving peace and recognizing the historic opportunity to end their enduring enmity.

In Yerevan, during the autumn session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Armenian leaders delivered a series of significant, at times contradictory, statements regarding their vision for establishing peace with Azerbaijan. Alain Simonyan, the Chairman of the National Assembly of Armenia, emphasized Armenia's unwavering commitment to regional peace in his address at the opening ceremony on November 18. Simonyan emphasized that Armenia, undaunted by challenges, has embraced a peaceful agenda aimed at fostering cooperation and regulating relations with all regional countries. The Armenian government, having secured a clear mandate from its citizens, is resolute in ushering in an era of peaceful coexistence for future generations. Simonyan underscored Armenia's active participation in peace negotiations with Azerbaijan, recognizing that achieving peace requires concerted efforts from both sides.

Armenia's aspirations extend to resolving relations with Turkey, including opening borders and communication channels, with negotiations proceeding without preconditions. Simonyan outlined Armenia's regional vision, encapsulated in the "Crossroads of the World" project, envisioning open borders, robust infrastructure, and strong economic, political, and cultural ties among all regional nations, with diplomacy and dialogue serving as the primary conflict resolution mechanisms.

During the same OSCE PA session, Armen Grigoryan, the Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia, reiterated Armenia's steadfast commitment to peace. He specifically highlighted the lamentable events of September 19, when Azerbaijan launched an attack on Nagorno-Karabakh, resulting in the displacement of over 100,000 Armenians. Despite these challenges, Armenia remains resolute in its pursuit of peace and prosperity, in collaboration with international partners. Grigoryan stressed the role of border delimitation between Armenia and Azerbaijan in establishing regional stability, reaffirming Armenia's commitment to the Alma-Ata Declaration and the recognition of each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, also addressing the OSCE PA session, expressed Armenia's readiness to address issues related to exclaves and enclaves in collaboration with Azerbaijan. He noted that certain actions in Azerbaijan, such as referring to the Republic of Armenia as "West Azerbaijan" in educational institutions and the media, raise concerns and could be seen as preparations for potential military aggression. Pashinyan clarified Armenia's stance on territorial integrity, recognizing Azerbaijan's territorial integrity within agreed-upon borders.

Furthermore, Pashinyan called for an agreement to have troops stationed on both sides of the Soviet Union's administrative border and emphasized the importance of effective communication and mutual understanding between Yerevan and Baku. He acknowledged the historical context and complexities of the long-standing conflict but expressed hope for constructive dialogue.

Regarding Armenian-Turkish relations, Pashinyan noted the active dialogue between the two nations despite the absence of diplomatic relations. He stressed the importance of normalizing these relations as a crucial step toward achieving the broader goal of establishing a peaceful and prosperous South Caucasus region. Pashinyan expressed hope for the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border to third-country citizens and diplomatic passport holders, viewing it as a symbolic step toward transforming the region into a bearer of positive news for the world.

On the same day in Baku, Hikmet Hajiyev, President Aliyev's foreign policy aide, in an interview euroreporter.co emphasized Azerbaijan's unwavering commitment to regional security and its pursuit of a new regional security architecture based on justice and mutual recognition of territorial integrity and sovereignty. He underscored the belief that peace in the region should emanate from the region itself, with external actors supporting these efforts rather than imposing conditions.

Hajiyev expressed concerns about perceived biases against Azerbaijan, including Azerbaijanophobia or Islamophobia, in certain European institutions and criticized recent statements from the European Council. He argued that European institutions had treated Azerbaijan unfairly during its territorial occupation and called for a consistent approach to separatism in various regions.

Regarding France's involvement in the region, Hajiyev expressed concerns about Armenia's militarization program and stressed the importance of European institutions playing a constructive role in achieving peace. He called on European institutions to be part of the solution, viewing this as a historic opportunity to establish lasting peace.

The statements from both capitals offer a sense of optimism regarding the prospect of further dialogue between the two countries, which had been stalled awaiting concrete steps towards the proclaimed peace.