BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. The peace process,
launched between Azerbaijan and Armenia a year ago, yields real
results today, political analyst Azer Garayev told Trend.
According to him, following the agreement reached in Washington
a year ago, the Joint Declaration issued by Azerbaijan, Armenia,
and the U.S. outlined the results of the past 12 months in the
peace process. The document not only mentions the agreements
reached a year ago, but also lists specific steps taken to
normalize relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, form new
transport links and economic cooperation in the region.
In this context, the main importance of the declaration is that
it reveals practical results achieved over the past year, rather
than its political message. The process that began in Washington
has no longer remained within the framework of diplomatic
negotiations, but has begun to turn into real projects that affect
the economic and transport map of the South Caucasus.
"The agreements reached a year ago at the White House with the
participation of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham
Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan created an
important stage in the direction of the political end of the
long-standing conflict. The Joint Declaration shows that since that
day, the main attention has been focused on how to consolidate the
results of peace. The steps taken to maintain stability on the
border of Azerbaijan and Armenia, normalize relations, and delimit
the borders are the main indicators of this," he noted.
According to him, one of the most important changes is the
beginning of the formation of economic relations between the two
countries.
"According to the declaration, over the past year, approximately
60,000 tons of cargo were transported from and to Armenia from the
territory of Azerbaijan, while Armenia purchased 20,000 tons of oil
products from Azerbaijan. These figures may not seem large at first
glance. However, against the background of economic and transport
relations that have been established for many years, their
political significance is even greater because for peace to be
sustainable, political agreements need to be transformed into daily
economic relations," he said.
Garayev pointed out that the Joint Declaration draws special
attention to the work done to implement TRIPP.
"This project has a broader meaning than restoring connectivity
between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The creation of the route can
change the transport map of the South Caucasus, strengthen regional
connections passing through Azerbaijan, and open up new transit
opportunities for Armenia. The declaration notes that engineering
surveys in Armenia are underway, and Azerbaijan has nearly
completed in its territory a highway and railroad to connect to
TRIPP with Armenia. This shows that the idea, set out in a
political document a year ago, has already become an infrastructure
project. The importance of TRIPP isn't limited to Azerbaijan and
Armenia. When the project is connected to the Middle Corridor, it
can become one of the routes that more closely connect the South
Caucasus between Central Asia and Europe," the analyst said.
He emphasized that another important result of the past year is
the change in the role of the U.S. in the region. Washington is no
longer acting only as a political mediator, but also as a supporter
of regional economic projects and connections.
"The Joint Declaration states that the U.S. has allocated $201
million to the Trans-Caspian Entrepreneurship Fund. The fact that
these funds are being directed to attracting private sector
investments along the Middle Corridor demonstrates Washington's
greater interest in the economic potential of the South Caucasus
and Central Asia. This process is especially important for
Azerbaijan, because in recent years, the country has built serious
infrastructure to become one of the main regional logistics centers
located at the intersection of the East-West and North-South
transport corridors. Restoring connectivity with Armenia can
further expand these opportunities," Garayev said.
According to him, one of the most important messages of the
Joint Declaration is that peace is no longer considered only as the
absence of conflict, but as the creation of economic
opportunities.
"Azerbaijan's unilateral lifting of transit restrictions with
Armenia and the start of mutual cargo transportation are among the
first examples of this. The internet agreement signed between
telecommunications operators also shows that relations are not
limited to transport and trade alone. Thus, over the past year, the
contours of a new stage in Azerbaijani-Armenian relations have been
formed. Stability on the border, restoration of transport links,
trade and energy cooperation, telecommunications relations - all
this creates the institutional and economic pillars of peace," he
said.
Garayev noted that, however, the results achieved within a year
aren't the final point. On the contrary, a more difficult stage -
the full and sustained implementation of the agreements reached -
is now beginning.
"The fact that the U.S., Azerbaijan, and Armenia reaffirmed
their support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and
jurisdiction of the countries at the end of the Joint Declaration
is also significant in this regard because lasting peace is
possible not only with political will, but with the strengthening
of mutual trust and practical cooperation with long-term
mechanisms.
While a year ago, the main issue in Washington was to pave the
way for a political solution to the long-term conflict, today, the
agenda is to bring real economic benefits to the region. 60,000
tons of cargo transportation, establishment of energy and
telecommunication connections, work towards the implementation of
TRIPP, and attraction of new investments in the Middle Corridor
show that peace is no longer just a matter of diplomatic
documents.
This is where the real result comes in. Decades of conflict in
the South Caucasus are gradually being replaced by an agenda of
connectivity, trade, and cooperation. If this process is continued
consistently, the step taken in Washington a year ago can be
considered as a turning point not only in the history of
Azerbaijan-Armenia relations, but in the economic development of
the region as a whole," the analyst concluded.
