On Friday 14 March, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, welcomed the respective announcements by Armenia and Azerbaijan concerning the finalisation of their negotiations on the draft Agreement on Peace and the establishment of bilateral inter-state relations.
The day before, the two countries had announced that they had reached agreement on a peace deal designed to put an end to almost four decades of conflict. The agreement is said to be ready for signature.
“We commend both sides for their persistent work over the past few years in this direction, both on the bilateral track and with the involvement of the international community. The EU welcomes Armenia paving the way for the finalisation of the text”, emphasised Ms Kallas in a press release.
According to the High Representative, these announcements represent a decisive step towards lasting peace and security in the region. “It is key to keep this momentum and ensure smooth completion of this process with the same forward-looking and compromise-oriented approach, from both sides”, she warned, adding that the EU fully supports the normalisation process and stands ready to provide additional support and expertise, should the sides request it.
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, also welcomed the announcements by Armenia and Azerbaijan. The draft agreement reflects the desire of both parties “to live up to their commitment and establish a stable and lasting peace in the region”, he said. He recalled that in 2001, when they joined the Council of Europe, Armenia and Azerbaijan undertook to “move towards peaceful cooperation”.
Alain Berset promised the Council of Europe’s support for the announced normalisation and assistance to its two member states. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant with Véronique Leblanc)