The leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia announced in interviews aired today, Tuesday, that they hope to reach a lasting peace agreement, despite their disputes over the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated, "I believe it is right to be optimistic." He added, "If we see a constructive approach from Armenia, and more importantly, if they set aside all aspirations to undermine our territorial integrity, we could find a peaceful solution very soon, perhaps by the end of the year."
For his part, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also expressed cautious optimism. He said, "There can not only be peace, but there must be peace. This is my belief and my position. However, for this to happen, it is also important for the international community to be aware of the important nuances so that it becomes clear why progress is not being made quickly enough."
Humanitarian Crisis
Pashinyan reiterated his accusation that Azerbaijan continues to block the passage of food and medicine to Karabakh via the Lachin corridor, the only road linking Armenia to the enclave, causing a humanitarian crisis. Aliyev denied that his country's forces were obstructing freedom of movement, stating that more than 2,000 residents of Karabakh have moved to Armenia and returned since Azerbaijan established a border checkpoint at the entrance to the corridor in April. Aliyev commented, "The Armenians in Karabakh must realize that being part of the community, under security guarantees and rights including educational, cultural, religious, and municipal, will allow them to live a normal life."
