YEREVAN: Longstanding rivals Armenia and Azerbaijan announced on Thursday their intention to exchange prisoners of war and move towards normalizing relations.
This joint statement is being lauded by the European Union as a “breakthrough” in the context of the protracted conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Azerbaijan recently reclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh after a swift offensive against Armenian separatists in September, exacerbating tensions that have persisted for decades.
The joint statement expresses a shared commitment to seizing a “historical chance to achieve a long-awaited peace in the region.” Both nations affirm their intention to normalize relations and work towards a peace treaty based on principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. As a goodwill gesture, Baku will release 32 Armenian prisoners of war, and Yerevan will reciprocate by releasing two Azerbaijani servicemen.
Moreover, the two countries pledge to continue discussions on implementing additional confidence-building measures in the near future. They also call on the international community to support their collaborative efforts. In an unexpected move, Armenia withdraws its bid to host the United Nations-led climate talks (COP29) next year, clearing the path for Azerbaijan’s candidacy. This decision is presented as a gesture of goodwill to foster diplomatic relations.
The annual COP negotiations are vital for addressing climate change, and hosting rights rotate among regions. Armenia’s withdrawal is seen as a diplomatic move to support Azerbaijan’s candidacy for COP29, which will be hosted by an Eastern European country in 2024.
The breakthrough agreements were reached during talks between the office of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the administration of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. EU Council President Charles Michel applauds the development as a “key step,” emphasizing the positive impact on Armenia-Azerbaijan relations.
The United States also welcomes these steps, viewing them as important confidence-building measures in the pursuit of a final peace agreement and normalized relations. However, recent talks between Aliyev and Pashinyan have experienced setbacks, with Azerbaijan refusing to participate in planned negotiations in the United States due to perceived bias.
While EU-mediated talks have seen limited progress, this joint statement offers a glimmer of hope for the resolution of the longstanding conflict in the Caucasus. The influence of traditional regional power broker Russia has diminished amid its involvement in the Ukraine war, creating space for international players to contribute to peace efforts in the region.
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives in wars in the 1990s and 2020, has seen a shift in power dynamics following Azerbaijan’s military success in September. The exchange of prisoners and the commitment to diplomatic dialogue mark positive steps toward stability in the region.
