Azerbaijan says conditions ‘created’ for Armenia peace deal
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday said conditions for a peace treaty with arch foe Armenia had been “created”, adding that he did not want another war, AFP reports.
The two Caucasus neighbours and historical foes have fought two wars over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region during the past three decades, with Baku retaking control of the territory in a one-day offensive last fall.
Peace talks — mediated separately by the European Union, the United States and Russia — have sputtered, despite both countries saying an agreement could be signed by the end of last year.
“The most important thing today is that real conditions have been created for a signing of a peace treaty,” Aliyev said in a televised interview.
“That’s why we need to actively work on the text,” he said.
In December, the two countries swapped prisoners of war, which was a seen as a first step toward normalising relations. But numerous issues remain unresolved and clashes break out regularly along the border.
Aliyev said he was “certain that there will not be a new war” with Armenia.
“I will do everything in my power to prevent it. Enough, enough of wars,” he said.
