The 8th European Political Community (EPC) summit has convened in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. Operative Information Center-OMM reports that President Ilham Aliyev participated in the event and delivered a speech via video link.
Addressing the participants, President Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude to President Costa for the invitation to the summit. The President noted that during a visit by President Costa to Azerbaijan less than two months ago, they discussed his participation and agreed on the video-link format. President Ilham Aliyev informed the audience that Azerbaijan supported the proposal for Armenia to host the summit in May 2026 and, in turn, proposed that Azerbaijan host a subsequent summit in May 2028 to maintain a balanced approach. "Armenia also supported our candidacy. This is a clear indication that peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia is real. We have been living in peace for only nine months and are learning to live in peace," the head of state emphasized.
Highlighting the progress in diplomatic relations, President Ilham Aliyev referenced the Joint Declaration signed by the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House in Washington last August, which was witnessed by US President Donald Trump. He noted that the foreign ministers have already initialed the text of the peace agreement. As a result of this stability, Azerbaijan has unilaterally removed all transit restrictions imposed on Armenia since the early 1990s. To date, 28,000 tons of cargo have been delivered to Armenia through the territory of Azerbaijan. Furthermore, Azerbaijan has commenced the supply of oil products, including gasoline and diesel, to Armenia, with 12,000 tons exported so far.
The President also touched upon regional connectivity, mentioning the "Trump International Peace and Prosperity Route," which will connect mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave and serve as a crucial segment of the Middle Corridor. While praising the European Commission's stance on the peace process, President Ilham Aliyev criticized the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the European Parliament for "double standards" and "sabotage." He noted that the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) of Azerbaijan officially decided on May 1 to suspend cooperation with the European Parliament in response to a series of biased resolutions. The President concluded by congratulating Prime Minister Pashinyan on hosting the summit and reaffirmed Azerbaijan's commitment to the peace agenda despite external interference.
The European Political Community was established in 2022 as a platform for political and strategic discussions regarding the future of the continent. The participation of Azerbaijan in these high-level dialogues underscores the country's pivotal role in European energy security and its efforts to establish lasting stability in the South Caucasus following the full restoration of its sovereignty in Garabagh in 2023.
