Ilham Aliyev’s Participation in Roundtable Discussions on “Peace and Security on European Continent” in Prague

On October 6, roundtable discussions on “Peace and Security on the European continent” was held on the sidelines of the European Political Community Summit in Prague. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev during the meeting stated that after the Second Karabakh War a new environment developed in the region. Despite the 30-year occupation by Armenia, the destruction, and the atrocities committed during the occupation, Azerbaijan came up with a proposal to sign a peace agreement with Armenia. The head of state asserted that this peace agreement is based on the 5 principles proposed by Azerbaijan – Mutual recognition of sovereignty, territorial integrity, inviolability of internationally recognized borders and political independence; Mutual confirmation of the absence of territorial claims against one another and the acceptance of a legal obligation associated with the waiver of such a claim in the future; Renunciation of acts like perpetrating a threat to the security of the other in interstate relations, the use of force and threats against the political independence and territorial integrity of one another, as well as other actions that do not follow UN Charter; Delimitation and demarcation of the state borders, the establishment of diplomatic relations; Opening of transport links and communications, the establishment of other relevant communications and initiation of cooperation in other areas of mutual interest.

In this context, stressing the importance of the meetings, held with the participation and at the initiative of the President of the European Council Charles Michel, in the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, also in the formation of the Brussels Peace Agenda, President Ilham Aliyev recalled that on October 2, the foreign ministers of both countries held a meeting in this regard. President Ilham Aliyev also noted that Azerbaijan supports the process of normalizing relations between Turkey and Armenia, he stressed that the process of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the process of normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia are complementary processes, a fact that can serve to ensure peace and security in the region as a whole.

To ensure peace and stability in the South Caucasus, the head of state emphasized the significance of creating a single Azerbaijan-Georgia-Armenia triple-format discussion platform for issues such as energy, communications, and others of mutual interest. In conclusion, President Ilham Aliyev once again noted the role of the principles of international law in interstate relations, in particular, he drew attention to the principle of territorial integrity. He emphasized the importance of an equal approach in relation to this principle and its privilege in interstate relations and also stated the importance of abandoning selective approaches in relation to this principle.