Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, in a letter to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the occasion of the Day of Russia, praised Moscow’s mediation efforts in reaching trilateral declarations on an armistice in Karabakh, and also expressed confidence in the further effective development of the strategic partnership.
According to the text of the letter, which is quoted by the press service of Aliyev, Russia has achieved significant success in state building, sustainable socio-economic development and modernization of all spheres of public life, and today makes a significant contribution to maintaining global and regional peace and security. The Azerbaijani leader expressed particular satisfaction with the dynamic and successful development of relations between Azerbaijan and Russia and a constructive bilateral dialogue.
“We highly appreciate the mediating efforts of the Russian Federation in achieving and implementing the trilateral statements of November 10, 2020 and January 11, 2021. I am convinced that the Azerbaijani-Russian strategic partnership and multifaceted interaction will continue to effectively develop and deepen, filling with new content, for the benefit of our peoples and countries, in the name of ensuring stability, cooperation and progress in the region”, -the letter says.
Baku and Yerevan need a peace treaty, Aliyev said
At the end of September 2020, hostilities resumed in Nagorno-Karabakh, which became a continuation of the long-term conflict and led to casualties among the civilian population. The parties made several attempts to conclude a truce, but the tripartite agreement reached on the night of November 10 turned out to be successful. With the mediation of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed to completely cease fire and exchange prisoners and bodies of the dead. Yerevan also handed over Kelbajar, Lachin and Aghdam districts to Baku. In addition, Russian peacekeepers are stationed in the region. On January 11 this year, the countries adopted a statement on the creation of a tripartite working group aimed at unblocking all economic and transport links in the region.