One of the key aspects of the negotiation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan is the delimitation and activities of the State Commissions, said Minister Azerbaijanis for Foreign Affairs, Djeyhoun Baïramov, during a joint press conference with Minister Slovenian of Foreign Affairs, Tanja Fujon, reports APA.
The Minister said he highly appreciated the work accomplished in this direction: “The year 2024 was remarkable in this regard. For the first time, an agreement was concluded by negotiation and the process of release the four villages of Qazakh, under Armenian occupation since the early 1990s, took place. Contacts between the state commissions are continuing and this process should continue in the coming months. Azerbaijan envisages this process with optimism. Another question concerns the opening of communications between countries. The question also arises of the restoration of an unhindered passage between the Western regions of Azerbaijan and the Nakhitchevan. The negotiations around this question were intensive for a long time. Unfortunately, no concrete result has yet been obtained. Azerbaijan is advancing on this subject, while Armenia has not yet reached an agreement to make its commitments. In addition to the opening of general communications, Azerbaijan requires a particular approach to establish a connection between Western regions and Nakhitchevan. Indeed, it is impossible for a country to be divided in two. Armenia is committed to ensuring an unhindered passage in 2020, and this commitment must be respected. For Azerbaijan, this passage must be literally free, without hindrance. It should be a commitment ensuring that any future change in Armenian legislation will not create the possibility of changing this situation short, long or medium term. We have already experienced it. Under the Soviet era, we had an unhindered passage, but it was violated, and a region of more than 300,000 inhabitants remained under blockade. Azerbaijan expects a free and unhindered transition, whatever the elements of change in the political configuration, and our efforts in this direction continue. ”
