Council of Europe Secretary General Welcomes Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Agreement
Baku, The Gulf Observer: Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset has welcomed the initialing of the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement in Washington, D.C., describing it as a historic milestone towards resolving the long-standing conflict between the two countries.
“This development marks a historic milestone towards lasting peace in the South Caucasus, a region whose stability is vital for the prosperity and security of all its peoples, including in Georgia,” Berset said in a statement. He noted that both Armenia and Azerbaijan have been member states of the Council of Europe since 2001, and affirmed the Council’s readiness to support the two nations as they embark on a new chapter in their shared history.
Berset recalled that in March, the two countries announced the finalization of negotiations on the draft Agreement on Peace and Establishment of Interstate Relations, a development he had found particularly encouraging. He said the peace process had been a consistent topic in his discussions with both leaders, including his meeting with President Ilham Aliyev in Baku last year during COP, a bilateral meeting with the Azerbaijani leader at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in April, and direct engagements with both Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Aliyev at the European Political Community Summit in Tirana in May. He also reiterated his support during an official visit to Yerevan.
“I commend the leaders and citizens of both nations for the political will, perseverance, and courage they have shown in working towards a just and lasting peace,” Berset said, adding that overcoming decades of mistrust, territorial disputes, and humanitarian challenges requires difficult but necessary compromises from all parties.
The Council of Europe, he affirmed, will continue to encourage and support Armenia and Azerbaijan in advancing towards peace.
