According to the President of Azerbaijan, the South Caucasus should be equal to the Baltic States

The visit of Latvian President Eglis Levits brought some European motives to the public statements of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev regarding the future of the Caucasus region.

On Wednesday, March 8, 2023, President Levits arrived on a two-day official visit to Azerbaijan to take part in the 10^th Global Baku Forum "The World Today: Challenges and Hopes" on March 9.

The presidents spoke about peace and hope after meeting face-to-face and in an expanded format at the Zagulba residence, exchanging views on the future of the region, the pacification of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and the European perspective in the presence of the press.

Aliyev noted Latvia's important role in EU-Azerbaijan cooperation, which he believes is developing very successfully: "We have signed or adopted declarations and strategic partnership agreements with nine members of the European Union, which is one third of the member states. This is a really good platform for the agreement that is currently being discussed between Azerbaijan and the European Commission. Absolutely most of the agreement has already been agreed. Therefore, we need to take the last steps. I hope we will do it sooner rather than later."

The President noted that Azerbaijan is becoming a more important partner for the European Union in terms of energy supplies, including oil, gas, and promising "green" energy.

Latvia has always played a very important and very positive role in ensuring closer cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan, as well as in cooperation between NATO and Azerbaijan, which is also developing very successfully, Aliyev said.

Touching upon relations with Armenia, Aliyev expressed hope that Yerevan will respond positively to the comments on the peace agreement proposal: "Some time ago we presented our proposal, which is based on the norms and principles of international law. We have received comments from Armenia. In response, we sent them our comments. So, the process is underway, and we hope to see the same strong political will on the part of Armenia. We hope that they will make the right decision."

Aliyev did not deny that he was impressed by the experience of cooperation and integration of the former Soviet Baltic countries: "We have lived together in the same country for many years. They managed to establish close cooperation. They have been members of the EU and NATO for many years. They are developing successfully. Unfortunately, we had a different picture in the South Caucasus. We have had wars, separatism, terrorism, extremism. It is time to put an end to all this. And if this happens, then the South Caucasus, like the Baltic countries of the former Soviet Union, will also have a chance for peaceful and prosperous development."

Aliyev's last key statement did not leave Levits indifferent: "I want to say that Latvia, as a member state of the European Union (EU), is interested in close cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan. Latvia welcomes the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan in the energy sector. Currently, Azerbaijan plays a very important role in the diversification of the European Union's energy supply and contributes to the EU's energy security. We are also committed to closer cooperation in the field of renewable energy."

Regarding cooperation in the field of security , the Latvian President noted: "The Embassy of Latvia performs the function of the NATO coordinator in Azerbaijan, and we will extend this mandate of our embassy in Baku until 2024. I see that Azerbaijan and NATO have a mutual interest in closer cooperation on security issues."

Levits could not but touch on the topic of Ukraine, the situation of which is in tune with what Azerbaijan has experienced over the past 28 years: "Latvia's foreign policy is based on respect for international law and the territorial integrity of all countries. Therefore, we condemn this gratuitous and unjustified aggression against Ukraine... However, I can say that sustainable peace should be based only on international law. We cannot allow interference in international law and, as a result of its violation, turning this situation into a long-term frozen conflict."

Referring to the peace process in the South Caucasus, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, Levits noted that Latvia stands for a settlement based on international law: "And international law means the territorial integrity of countries. I believe that the time has come to reach such a peace agreement, and we will support a peace agreement in which both sides will come to an agreement. Sustainable peace can be achieved only if it is based on international law and territorial integrity."

The Latvian President expressed hope for the support of the Non-Aligned Movement, where Azerbaijan chairs, of Latvia's candidacy for membership in the UN Security Council for 2025.

He also said that Latvia will assume the presidency of the Council of Europe, where the parties can "continue discussing issues of strengthening democracy and the rule of law in Europe in the interests of all participating countries."—0—