Azerbaijan’s vice president, Hikmet Hajiyev, stated that should Yerevan fail to meet its commitments, Baku is prepared to pursue alternative transportation corridors by collaborating with other nations. The remarks were reported by TASS, underscoring Baku’s readiness to diversify its logistics routes beyond any single partner if necessary.
Hajiyev stressed that Azerbaijan will not parcel out its logistical requirements to what he described as the Armenian government’s whims. Instead, Baku intends to advance its transport interests through cooperation with regional partners and neighboring countries, reinforcing a broader strategy to safeguard crucial supply lines and regional connectivity.
Earlier, a senior Azerbaijani official signaled expectations for a peace agreement with Armenia, indicating that progress toward a formal settlement remains a priority and that tangible steps toward normalization could be pursued in the near term.
In recent exchanges, Hajiyev characterized the peace treaty with Armenia as a contentious issue for the Armenian leadership, suggesting that the agreement carries political implications that extend beyond ordinary diplomatic accords and could influence domestic governance and strategic calculations within Yerevan.
According to Hajiyev, constructive trade relations with Azerbaijan are viewed as a catalyst for Armenian development. He argued that sustained economic engagement would address underlying political grievances and potentially reduce the appeal of leadership that promotes confrontation, reframing regional cooperation as a means to uplift the Armenian populace.
Recently, Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan reiterated Armenia’s stated willingness to move forward with a peace agreement with Azerbaijan, signaling a continued interest in dialogue and the pursuit of a formal settlement as part of a broader peace process.
Historically, Armenia and Azerbaijan have engaged in negotiations focused on mutual recognition of territorial integrity and the terms surrounding the status of contested regions. This ongoing dialogue remains a central element of the broader effort to establish durable relations and reduce tensions in the South Caucasus, with each side presenting its own conditions and expectations for a viable framework.