Reconciliation with Armenia is Not Easy, but There Is No Alternative: Aliyev's Statement

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has predicted when Baku and Yerevan will improve their relations. During a meeting with participants of the international conference "South Caucasus: Development and Cooperation," Aliyev stated that reconciliation with Armenia is not an easy process, but they do not want a new war, according to Azerbaijani news outlets.

"In the next ten years, we will be stronger, and I hope that by that time, perhaps in 10 years, all misunderstandings and issues related to Armenia will be resolved. At the same time, the South Caucasus region will be fully integrated, and the three countries of the region will already have close cooperation," he noted.

Aliyev emphasized that reconciliation with Armenia is not an easy process, but there is no alternative to this process. "Azerbaijani society is understanding towards the peace treaty process with Armenia. It is not easy, we understand that, but we do not need a new war. At the same time, we must defend ourselves from possible revanchist risks coming from Armenia. Therefore, on the one hand, we need to strengthen our army, and on the other hand, prepare the Azerbaijani society for peace," said Aliyev.

He suggested establishing contacts between the civil societies of Azerbaijan and Armenia at the level of NGOs and journalists. "This should become the basis. Yes, this is a long-term process, but we have no alternative," said Aliyev.

Based on Azerbaijan's proposal, Armenia has finally agreed to create joint working groups with Azerbaijan to start the process of delimiting their borders, he reported.

"This is an important signal, an indicator that now, a year and a half after the second Karabakh war, the leadership of Armenia and, I hope, the population understand the necessity of peace. And if a peace treaty is concluded, the fundamental principles are known, then peace in the Caucasus will be stable. This is what we want. What we demonstrate and declare is a bright example of our will to establish peace in the Caucasus," said the Azerbaijani leader.