Ambassador Edmon Marukyan of Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that restoring trust between Baku and Yerevan is essential for achieving lasting peace. This viewpoint was reported by TASS and reflects a broader call for practical steps that could pave a durable settlement after years of tension and intermittent clashes along the border.
Marukyan outlined concrete conditions linked to the path toward reconciliation. He asserted that in order to move toward lasting peace, Azerbaijan must release prisoners of war and withdraw its forces to the lines established by the 1975 borders. He explained that true progress requires both sides to demonstrate good faith and to abstain from unilateral actions that could jeopardize confidence-building measures—such actions include the ongoing and incomplete prisoner exchange process, which he argued has been undermined by new detentions and sporadic trials that resemble punitive steps rather than confidence-building moves.
According to the Armenian diplomat, trust cannot be built through one-sided gestures. Instead, Baku must respond with reciprocal confidence-building steps from Yerevan, creating an environment where reforms and negotiations can proceed on equal terms. This mutual approach, he suggested, is what would anchor any future agreement in the realities on the ground rather than on rhetoric alone, and it would help to reduce misperceptions that have long fueled fear and suspicion on both sides.
In responding to these calls, former Vice President of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev stated that Baku remains committed to returning to constructive negotiations with Yerevan. The emphasis, he indicated, is on resuming dialogue within a framework that prioritizes practical diplomacy, mutual recognition of territorial integrity, and a measured approach to security concerns that have persisted since the conflict years. His remarks hint at a willingness to re-engage, provided that the process retains a realistic pace and adheres to principles accepted by both parties.
Earlier discussions between Armenia and Azerbaijan underscored a shared objective: mutual recognition of each other’s territorial integrity. This aspiration continues to be a cornerstone of any future peace framework, even as negotiators confront complex legal, historical, and demographic considerations. Both sides have repeatedly signaled readiness to engage in talks that acknowledge the realities on the ground while seeking a durable resolution that could reduce the likelihood of renewed hostilities. The dialogue remains a delicate balance of asserting national interests and demonstrating flexibility to accommodate the concerns of the other, with confidence-building and verifiable steps at the heart of every proposed pathway toward reconciliation.