A new chapter of peace has opened between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared, announcing the removal of all restrictions on cargo transit between the two South Caucasus neighbors.
“Today marks the beginning of a new stage of peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The fact that a peace agreement has been initialed in less than two years since the last military clashes proves that both countries have demonstrated a high level of political will,” Aliyev said in remarks delivered on Monday.
Azerbaijani leader says his government has lifted all restrictions on the transit of goods to Armenia, which had been in place since the early 1990s following decades of conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.
“Azerbaijan has removed all transit restrictions that were imposed after the occupation. I believe this is clear evidence that peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia exists not only on paper but also in practice,” Aliyev added.
The statement comes after months of diplomatic negotiations between Baku and Yerevan, mediated by international partners including the European Union, Russia, and the United States, aimed at achieving a comprehensive peace treaty to formally end more than three decades of hostility between the two nations.
The two countries fought two major wars over Nagorno-Karabakh — first in the early 1990s, and again in 2020, when Azerbaijan reclaimed much of the disputed territory. Tensions briefly flared again in 2023, when Azerbaijan launched a military operation that resulted in Baku’s full control over the region and the mass exodus of ethnic Armenians from Karabakh.
Recent months have seen unprecedented diplomatic progress. Armenia and Azerbaijan have exchanged detainees, reopened dialogue channels, and begun discussions on border demarcation and transport connectivity. Earlier this month, officials from both sides confirmed that they had initialed a draft peace agreement, a significant step toward normalization.
Aliyev’s announcement about lifting trade restrictions is seen as a confidence-building measure, signaling Baku’s willingness to move beyond decades of confrontation. It also coincides with efforts to reopen regional trade and transport routes, including transit corridors linking the Caspian and Black Seas.
If finalized, the peace treaty would mark the first comprehensive agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan since the collapse of the Soviet Union — potentially reshaping the geopolitics of the South Caucasus. The normalization process could open trade and energy routes across the region, attract foreign investment, and reduce reliance on external peacekeeping forces.
International observers have cautiously welcomed Aliyev’s statement, noting that mutual trust remains fragile and the success of the peace process will depend on sustained political will and cooperation from both sides.
Background:
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Armenia and Azerbaijan fought wars in 1988–1994 and 2020 over Nagorno-Karabakh.
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In 2023, Azerbaijan regained full control of the enclave.
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EU, US, and Russian envoys continue to mediate peace talks.
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The current draft peace agreement focuses on mutual recognition of borders, sovereignty, and transport corridors.
Source: Official statement by the President of Azerbaijan, APA, Report.az, and Azertag news agencies.
