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YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — Residents and politicians successful Armenia and Azerbaijan responded Saturday with cautious anticipation — and skepticism successful immoderate cases — aft their leaders signed a U.S.-brokered statement astatine the White House aimed astatine ending decades of hostilities.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed the statement connected Friday successful the beingness of U.S. President Donald Trump, who stood betwixt the leaders arsenic they shook hands — a motion Trump reinforced by clasping their hands together.
While the statement does not represent a ceremonial bid treaty, it represents a important diplomatic measurement toward normalization of relations. The 2 countries stay technically astatine war, and the woody does not resoluteness the longstanding quality implicit the disputed portion of Nagorno-Karabakh.
It does, however, bespeak the shifting powerfulness dynamics pursuing Azerbaijan’s 2023 subject victory, which forced the withdrawal of Armenian forces and taste Armenians from the region.
Among the agreement's provisions is the instauration of a caller transit corridor, dubbed the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity,” highlighting a changing geopolitical scenery amid declining Russian power successful the South Caucasus.
Nagorno-Karabakh has been astatine the bosom of the Armenia-Azerbaijan struggle since the Soviet Union’s collapse. Although internationally recognized arsenic portion of Azerbaijan, the mountainous portion was controlled for decades by taste Armenian forces backed by Armenia. Two wars — successful the aboriginal 1990s and again successful 2020 — near tens of thousands dormant and displaced. In 2023, Azerbaijan regained power of astir of the territory successful a swift offensive.
Hopeful for bid and a weaker Moscow
Ali Karimli, caput of the absorption People’s Front of Azerbaijan Party, wrote connected Facebook that the signing of the statement “has undoubtedly brought Azerbaijan and Armenia importantly person to peace,” and noted that it delivered “another stroke … to Russia’s power successful the South Caucasus,” portion deepening ties with the U.S.
Arif Hajili, president of Azerbaijani absorption enactment Musavat, said helium believed that “the astir affirmative facet of the initialing successful Washington was the lack of Russia from the process.”
He said lasting stableness successful the portion hinges connected the continual dwindling of Russian power, which “depends connected the result of the Russian‑Ukrainian war.”
Hajili besides warned of lingering challenges, including Armenia's economical dependence connected Russia and immoderate 2 cardinal Azerbaijanis surviving successful Russia.
“Russia volition proceed to usage these factors arsenic levers of pressure,” helium said.
Hope connected the streets of Azerbaijan's capital
“We person been waiting for a agelong clip for this statement to beryllium signed,” a nonmigratory of Baku, Gunduz Aliyev, told The Associated Press. “We did not spot our neighbor, Armenia. That’s wherefore a beardown authorities was needed to enactment arsenic a guarantor. Russia couldn’t bash it, but the United States succeeded.”
“The U.S. is taking afloat work for security. This volition bring bid and stability," said another, Ali Mammadov. "Borders volition unfastened soon, and mean relations with Armenia volition beryllium established.”
Abulfat Jafarov, besides successful Baku, expressed gratitude to each 3 leaders involved.
“Peace is ever a bully thing,” helium said. "We invited each measurement taken towards progress.”
More divided views successful the Armenian capital
Some radical successful Yerevan were unsure of the meaning of the agreement.
“I consciousness uncertain due to the fact that overmuch inactive needs clarification. There are unclear aspects, and though the premier curate of Armenia made immoderate statements from the U.S., much details are needed,” Edvard Avoyan said.
But entrepreneur Hrach Ghasumyan could spot economical benefits.
“If state and lipid pipelines walk done Armenia and railway routes are opened, it would beryllium beneficial for the country,” helium said. “Until now, each large routes person passed done Georgia, leaving Armenia sidelined and economically limited.”
Others were skeptical that bid could beryllium achieved, and expressed discontent with the presumption of the agreement.
“That declaration is improbable to bring existent bid to the region, and we are good alert of Azerbaijan’s stance,” Ruzanna Ghazaryan said. “This archetypal statement offers america nothing; the concessions are wholly one-sided.”
