Politics 14:45 05/08/2024 Region

EU envoy says most of Armenian-Azeri peace treaty agreed upon

Toivo Klaar, the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, provided his insights in an interview with JAMnews, reflecting on his decade-long experience in the region.

On the developments between Armenia and Azerbaijan

● How would you describe the developments between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the past few years?

It has been a mixed picture. We have seen better moments, and I do hope that we are living some of them now, but we have also seen a lot of violence with many innocent victims.

The 44-day war in 2020, the various armed clashes and larger military operations, the situation around the Lachin corridor, and not least the mass exodus of the Karabakh Armenians in September 2023 were among the most difficult situations I had to deal with.

I will always remember the exchanges I had with the victims of this violence and the stories that I heard from those who faced similar hardships in the 1990s.

At the same time we also have had more positive developments.

We have more dialogue now between Baku and Yerevan, which also the EU has contributed to, I believe. We have discussions aimed at finalising a peace agreement.

It is my hope that with political will and continued effort by all sides the page of enmity and violence can now finally be turned once and for all, for the benefit of all the peoples of the region.

On the EU’s mediation efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan

● How would you assess the EU’s mediation efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan, particularly the so-called “Brussels Process”?

Before the 2020 war, the EU played a much less visible role. Our – my – task was mainly to act in support of the efforts undertaken by the main international format, the Minsk Group, and its co-chairs.

After the 2020 war the EU, mostly at the request of the parties themselves, started to play a more prominent role, which culminated with the series of high-level trilateral meetings between President Michel, Azerbaijani President Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan.

I believe that these meetings – in addition to efforts undertaken by other international actors – provided the two leaders with the necessary space to reach some common understandings on the main issues at stake: the peace treaty, border delimitation and demarcation, the reopening of regional economic and transport links, and humanitarian issues.

We had six meetings of the leaders in Brussels between 14 December 2021 and 15 July 2023, we had numerous high-level telephone exchanges, and we organised meetings of the security advisors here.

Combined with my visits to Baku and Yerevan, and the wider region, I believe that the EU helped create a certain framework, based on which the leaders could give the Foreign Ministers, the Deputy Prime Ministers and other key actors guidance, and steer for further negotiations.

Over the past months, the bilateral track between Armenia and Azerbaijan has managed to produce concrete positive outcomes.

The EU has welcomed all these developments, be it the 7 December 2023 joint statement on releases of detainees and COP29, or the more recent agreements on border delimitation and demarcation of 19 April 2024, with their subsequent implementation.

The latter are based precisely on the common understandings that had been reached earlier with our involvement, for instance on the unambiguous acceptance of the 1991 Almaty Declaration as the basis for the delimitation of the bilateral border.

Finally, even though we have seen more bilateral meetings recently, the EU stands ready to again step in as a facilitator when requested by the parties.

On the future peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan

● Do you think the future peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan could be signed soon?

As far as I know, most of the draft peace treaty has already been agreed upon. It seems to me that the only thing missing is the political will needed to reach the finish line.

We have been encouraged by the latest intensive exchanges of drafts and the recent trilateral meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan with U.S. Secretary of State Blinken in Washington DC on 10 July 2024.

We firmly believe that achieving a final agreement on the remaining issues and wording is within reach.

A peace treaty and its subsequent implementation would fundamentally change the situation in the region. I believe the leaders also share this view and will undertake all the efforts needed to reach a final agreement on the matter.

However, the fact that they did not meet during the recent European Political Community summit in the UK it is also a reminder how fragile the process still is. It does not show lack of commitment by either side, but illustrates well the sensitivities associated not only with the substance, but also with the process of the normalisation deliberations.

● And if there is a peace agreement, what then?

This would be a great achievement. But agreements of course need to be implemented and so a peace agreement will only be a waypoint towards normalisation. In the end, peace is about people, and normalisation of relations must mean normalisation at the societal level.

Much of the peace process has been quite top-down, and what is ultimately needed is a genuine opening, including through cross border trade and connectivity of the region, and making peace and stability feel normal for the populations on both sides.

But for this to be possible, peace building efforts need to include confidence building and reconciliation between people to enable them to make peace with each other. I have therefore always put a strong focus in my work on confidence building, dialogue and reconciliation efforts around the official negotiation processes, and the EU has supported such activities for many years already, to promote an environment conducive for real peace.

The international community will need to remain engaged both politically and financially, also after the signature of a peace agreement. But the onus, as now, will remain on the leaderships in Yerevan and Baku to not stop half way, but to continue all the way towards a full normalisation of relations, not only between governments, but also between peoples.



Source Panorama.am
Share |
Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

Newsfeed

17:15
Lawyer says fired ZCMC workers can seek reinstatement in court
The employees of the Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC) can challenge their dismissal in court, environmental lawyer Nazeli Vardanyan...
16:30
Norway's ex-PM reveals why he got so attached to Armenia
Within the framework of his official visit to Norway on Friday, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan had a meeting with former...
16:00
Marco Rubio urged to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its war crimes
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) welcomes a bipartisan Congressional letter led by Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Frank Pallone...
15:35
3 Baltic states cut ties to Russian power grid
The flow of electricity between the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and Russia was officially severed Saturday morning after...
15:14
Azerbaijanis desecrated Armenian church altar in Artsakh
In February 2025, photos circulating online revealed that Azerbaijani forces damaged the altar of Tsitsernavank in Artsakh's Kashatagh...
14:46
'Anora', starring Armenian actors, wins top prize at Critics Choice Awards
Anora took home the top prize at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards, People reported. On Friday, Feb. 7, writer-director Sean Baker took...
14:15
Expert: Pashinyan's Washington trip gave no answers to key questions
Political analyst Suren Sargsyan reiterated that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's visit to Washington was primarily aimed at...
13:31
One killed, several wounded in house fire in Armenian town
One person was killed and four others were injured in a fire that broke out at a wooden residential building in Stepanavan, a town in...
12:45
'Joe, you're fired': Trump revokes Biden's access to classified information
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said he was removing former President Joe Biden’s access to classified information by revoking his...
12:35
Family of fallen hero Rob Hayrapetyan welcomes baby boy
The family of fallen hero Rob Hayrapetyan has welcomed a baby boy, naming him Rob. The baby was born at Yerevan’s Beglaryan Medical...
11:45
Three-hundred-year-old Stradivarius violin sells for $11m at New York auction
A Stradivarius violin crafted in 1714 sold for $11.25m (£9.1m) at a New York auction on Friday, missing the world record for a musical...
11:35
Armenia, Azerbaijan hold meeting on missing persons at border
Armenia and Azerbaijan on Friday held a meeting at the border to discuss the fate of missing persons, according to Azerbaijani...
11:22
Aram I urges Trump to press for release of Armenian prisoners held in Baku
On February 6, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, sent a letter to newly inaugurated U.S. President Donald Trump,...
11:06
Armenian defense minister off to India
A delegation led by Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan on Saturday left for India on a working visit, his ministry reported. No...
17:07
Striking ZCMC workers hint at pressure on coordination council members
Employees of Armenia’s Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC) continued the strike on Friday, insisting on the restoration of...
16:36
ANCA calls for Azerbaijani accountability at International Religious Freedom Summit panel
In remarks offered at the Capitol Hill opening of the International Religious Freedom Summit Kick-Off Advocacy event, Armenian National...
16:05
Azerbaijan destroys Armenian megalithic monument near Al Lakes
Satellite imagery analysis conducted by the Armenian Cultural Landscape organization reveals that Azerbaijan has destroyed the megalithic...
15:42
Armenian church to hold blessing ceremony for newlyweds on Feb. 14
On February 14, the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church will celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Infant Jesus to the Temple. In past...
15:14
Azerbaijan uses sham trial of prisoners to target Armenia, MP says
During the sham trial of Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan, a country that claims to be holding "peace talks" with Armenia, the...
14:35
Boycott of bus fare increase continues in Yerevan
Many commuters continue boycotting a significant increase in public transport fares in Yerevan, citing poor service. Bus fares rose from 100 to...
13:46
Azerbaijan continues to destroy residential areas in Artsakh
Azerbaijan continues to target Armenian residential areas, settlements and cultural monuments in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), warns Hovik...
13:15
Romanian government blocks Christie's sale of El Greco painting
El Greco’s Saint Sebastian (ca. 1610–14) has been pulled from auction at Christie’s after intervention from the Romanian...
12:58
Striking ZCMC workers demand guarantees from government
The striking employees of the Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC) are demanding formal assurances from the Armenian government that their...
12:30
Major crash in Armenia leaves 150 cars stranded
A major road traffic accident in Armenia’s Syunik Province left 150 cars stranded. The crash involving 6 vehicles occurred on the...
11:48
ZCMC workers continue strike despite threats
Employees of Armenia’s Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC) continued the strike on Friday despite pressure and threats from the...
11:15
State of emergency declared on Santorini after 7,700 tremors
Greek civil protection authorities have declared a state of emergency on Santorini as natural disaster experts voice mounting fears over the...
11:01
Pashinyan meets with US vice president
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with U.S. Vice President James David Vance at the White House in Washington, the Armenian...
17:05
Iranian ambassador comments on US-Armenia strategic partnership deal
Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Mehdi Sobhani commented on the strategic partnership agreement signed between Armenia and the United States in...
16:46
Armenian FM to pay official visit to Norway
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan will pay an official visit to Norway on Friday. He is scheduled to meet with his Norwegian...
16:26
False narratives cannot disrupt strong Iran-Armenia ties, envoy says
Iran considers the establishment of a lasting peace and stability in the South Caucasus as its key commitment, Iranian Ambassador to Armenia...

Follow us and get updates!

Most popular articles

{"core.blocks.header.spell_message1":"Selected mistake: ","core.blocks.header.spell_message2":"Send a message about the mistake?"}