President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev gave an interview to the "France 24" television channel in Munich on February 13.
"Operative Information Center-OMM" presents the interview.
During the discussion, President Ilham Aliyev addressed the current state of normalization between Azerbaijan and Armenia following a trilateral meeting at the White House with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and US President Donald Trump. The President emphasized that the signing of a joint declaration in the presence of the US President signifies the end of the conflict and the beginning of a lasting peace era.
"The situation on the border with Armenia has been very calm for more than six months. There is no more firing, no casualties, and no injuries. Azerbaijan unilaterally removed restrictions on the transit of goods to Armenia, and we have begun supplying essential oil products, marking the start of our commercial relations," President Ilham Aliyev stated. He noted that while a formal peace treaty is pending, the text has already been initialed by the foreign ministers in Washington. However, he reiterated that Armenia must amend its Constitution to remove territorial claims against Azerbaijan, specifically references to the unification of the former "Nagorno-Karabakh" with Armenia, as a prerequisite for the final signing.
The interview also touched upon the strategic partnership with the United States and the development of the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" (TRIPP). This project involves the construction of a transport corridor through Armenian territory connecting mainland Azerbaijan with its exclave, Nakhchivan. President Ilham Aliyev expressed confidence in the project's realization, noting that US President Donald Trump has personally committed to this initiative, which Azerbaijan refers to as the Zangezur corridor.
Regarding relations with France, President Ilham Aliyev noted that while ties had been strained due to France's perceived support for separatist elements in Garabagh, a recent meeting with the French President has paved the way for a reset. "We are ready for this. We do not need problems with any country, including France. It is important that we respect each other as sovereign states and do not interfere in each other's internal affairs," the President added.
The Munich Security Conference, where this interview took place, is a major global platform for discussing international security policy. Azerbaijan's participation highlights its growing role in regional energy security and its efforts to finalize a peace agenda in the South Caucasus following the restoration of its territorial integrity in 2023.
