Hikmet Hajiyev, who is on a working visit in London, gave an interview to BBC and spoke about the Azerbaijan-Armenia settlement process. According to the assistant of the President of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan is ready to sign a peace treaty with Armenia. Aliyev's aide also stated that if the US wants to play a mediating role in the negotiations, it should change its attitude towards Baku. According to him, Washington is taking a one-sided, pro-Armenian position on the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh, which causes concern in Baku.
On December 7, the two countries adopted a joint statement, expressing readiness to advance the peace agenda and strengthen the atmosphere of trust, Hajiyev noted, adding that Baku is in favor of direct dialogue.
“At the same time, the Azerbaijani side does not reject mediation efforts. But it is important that the two countries achieve peace, after which our partners can support this achievement,” Hajiyev emphasized.
According to Aliyev's aide, the last three months can be considered the most peaceful period in the history of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. “There is no war, atrocities, confrontation, soldiers are returning to barracks. Relative peace is ensured at the local level. Now is the time to establish lasting peace and sign a treaty,” the Azerbaijani official added.
In an interview with Reuters, Hikmet Hajiyev also stated that Baku does not see serious obstacles on the way to ensuring stable peace with Armenia and believes that the issue of clarifying borders can be resolved separately. “The 35-year conflict is now over,” the official said.
Hajiyev also stated once again that Azerbaijan did not force the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh to leave their homes and now they are ready to create conditions for their return. According to him, in order to return to Nagorno-Karabakh, it is necessary to obtain Azerbaijani citizenship.
In an interview with Newsweek, Hajiyev stated that on September 19, 10 minutes before the attack, Moscow and the Russian peacekeepers were warned. He denied rumors that the September operations were coordinated with Moscow, at the same time emphasizing that Baku was not surprised by the lack of reaction from the Russian side.
Responding to concerns that Azerbaijan may use force to open a corridor through the territory of Armenia to Nakhijevan, the assistant to the President of Azerbaijan noted that the noise is artificial. "Azerbaijan has no more military goals. For us, the war and the conflict are over," he said.
