Azerbaijan will continue its efforts to establish lasting peace in the South Caucasus and further consolidate peace on the ground.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department at the Presidential Administration, made the remarks.
According to him, the final chapter of the Garabagh conflict was closed three years ago, after which Azerbaijan and Armenia entered a new era of peace.
Hajiyev noted that August marked the first anniversary of the initialing of the agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia on peace and the establishment of interstate relations.
“For Azerbaijan, the conflict is over. We are learning to live in peace and are moving forward in this direction,” the presidential aide stressed.
He also said that peace should mean not only the absence of confrontation, but also the strengthening of trust, reconstruction and development.
Hajiyev said the latest meeting between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia was held in a constructive atmosphere. “The sides agreed to continue bilateral cooperation to advance the peace agenda, strengthen trust, and develop trade ties and transport connectivity between the two countries,” Hajiyev said.
He also addressed the development of the TRIPP project.
“I am pleased to note the positive signals regarding the development of the TRIPP project. We are grateful to our American partners for demonstrating full commitment to its implementation. We hope that construction work will be completed soon,” he said.
According to Hajiyev, representatives of the diplomatic corps visited the transport route from Baku to Zangilan last year and examined the progress of construction work.
He said construction of the railway and highway is nearly complete, while the entire project is planned to be completed by the end of this year or during next year in Azerbaijan.
“We are currently focusing our efforts on implementing the Nakhchivan segment of this project. We are also receiving positive signals from our partners in the European Union and other countries. They have expressed their readiness to support our efforts to restore and rebuild Nakhchivan,” the presidential aide said.
According to him, implementation of the project will provide new transport connectivity not only for the region but also for a broader part of the Eurasian continent, strengthening east-west routes and the Middle Corridor.
“This will change the entire configuration of our region and, at the same time, ensure Armenia’s integration into regional processes,” Hajiyev stressed.
