Speech of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev at the Eastern Partnership Summit of the European Union

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev made a speech on December 15 at the VI Eastern Partnership Summit of the European Union held in Brussels, the capital of the Kingdom of Belgium.

During his speech, while drawing attention to the development of the strategic relations in the rising line between Azerbaijan and the European Union, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized the prevailing constructive environment between Armenia and Azerbaijan while touching on the Karabakh topic and stressed the role of the European Union in creating such an environment. The head of state stressed the importance of not missing this opportunity and continuing efforts to ensure lasting peace in the region while taking advantage of the opportunity.

Noting the rise of fertile ground for the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which does not exist anymore, by Azerbaijan in military-political means and stressed that it is important for both countries to look forward from now on.

The head of state, Ilham Aliyev, also touched on the role of the OSCE Minsk Group and stated that the Minsk Group could help in the preparation of a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, delimitation of borders, establishing contacts between people, confidence-building measures, and other issues.

Touching upon the issue of mines in the liberated territories, President Ilham Aliyev said that Azerbaijani civilians had been suffering from their presence while adding that about 200 people had been killed or injured in mine explosions to date. In this regard, President Ilham Aliyev stressed the importance of technical and financial assistance by the European Union and member states to Azerbaijan to eliminate the mine problem.