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European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has expressed optimism regarding the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process.
She made the remarks when asked whether she believes final peace can be achieved between the two countries, given that the Azerbaijani government’s rhetoric has not changed and President Aliyev continues to maintain what he describes as the “western Azerbaijan” narrative on his agenda.
“I have been to Baku. I was speaking to the president of Azerbaijan as I was speaking with your president, with your prime minister in Yerevan,” Commissioner Kos told the Armenian media representatives, including Armenpress Editor-In-Chief Shant Khlghatyan, during a media tour in Brussels. “In both countries, I got very positive signals that also Azerbaijan means seriously when they speak about the peace. So yes, I believe. I believe that peace is possible and you know already what is happening now is development in the positive direction.”
Commissioner Kos also highlighted the recent reciprocal visits by Armenian and Azerbaijani civil society representatives, which “wouldn't be possible before.”
The EU Commissioner attached importance to Türkiye’s role in the establishment of final peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
“Tomorrow I'm meeting the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye and we are in good contact also regarding what's happening between Armenia and Azerbaijan. And the whole geopolitics, following from the outside, of course, you can be perhaps suspicious if the intentions are real. I feel they are, because also the United States of America is involved. So, the peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan is again much more than only peace between your two countries, it is about the regional peace. That's why I'm very, very positive. And in my opinion, yes, we still need this peace agreement to be signed, but we all, including the European Union, should do everything that Armenia and Azerbaijan will be able to live in peace. And this is what we are working on and counting on,” Commissioner Kos said.
Armenia and Azerbaijan initialed a peace agreement on August 8 in Washington, D.C. Armenia has expressed readiness to sign the treaty as soon as possible, but Azerbaijan has set forth a precondition—constitutional changes in Armenia—which Yerevan has described as unacceptable.