Aliyev: Peace deal will open path to regional integration in South Caucasus

 Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on Wednesday that the signing of a peace agreement with Armenia would remove all remaining obstacles to regional cooperation and pave the way for integration in the South Caucasus.

“Once a peace agreement is signed, there will be no remaining obstacle to cooperation. We must not waste time. The ball is now in Armenia’s court. We have been transparent about our expectations, particularly regarding respect for our territorial integrity and necessary constitutional changes on the Armenian side,” Aliyev said at the 7th ADA University Policy Forum titled "Facing the New World Order."

He added that once these conditions are met and a peace deal is finalized, the South Caucasus could begin to explore regional integration.

“That said, we must remain realistic. We cannot expect to become immediate friends with Armenia. Economic integration will not happen overnight. But we are ready to take the first steps—confidence-building measures,” Aliyev said.

He noted that Georgia had already proposed useful initiatives, to which Azerbaijan responded positively, and now awaited Armenia’s position.

“These first steps could be modest but meaningful—such as exchanges between journalists and intellectuals, or collaborative efforts on transboundary environmental issues. One example is the pollution of rivers, including the Kura River, which must be addressed seriously as it flows into Azerbaijan,” he said, adding that such cooperation could lay the foundation for lasting trust.

N.Tebrizli