Kazakh President Welcomes Azerbaijan-Armenia Peace Talks in Almaty

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia to hold peace treaty talks in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The negotiations between the foreign ministers of the two countries will take place in Almaty, with both sides confirming their participation. The date of the event will be announced later.

Tokayev had previously proposed the idea of conducting these talks in Kazakhstan during his recent visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan, offering the country's assistance in facilitating the negotiations to establish lasting peace in the South Caucasus region. The Kazakh president stated that it is symbolic that this important event will be held in the city where the historic Alma-Ata Declaration was signed in 1991, which consolidated the foundations of the independent development of the CIS countries and established the principles of defining interstate borders.

According to Tokayev, the upcoming meeting will serve for the practical implementation of the Azerbaijani-Armenian agreements and contribute to the early establishment of lasting and long-term peace in the South Caucasus. "The upcoming meeting in Almaty will be a practical realization of the Azerbaijani-Armenian agreements and contribute to the early establishment of lasting peace in the South Caucasus," Tokayev said.

Why this matters: The agreement to hold peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Almaty represents a significant step towards resolving the longstanding conflict between the two countries and promoting regional stability in the South Caucasus. The facilitation of these negotiations by Kazakhstan underscores the country's role as a mediator and its commitment to fostering peace in the region.

Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have remained tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Karabakh, a territory recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions. Most of the territory was liberated by Azerbaijan during a 44-day war in 2020, which ended with a Russian-brokered peace agreement that opened the door to normalization and border demarcation. Last September, Azerbaijan established full sovereignty in Karabakh following an 'anti-terrorist operation' after which separatist forces in the region surrendered. The upcoming talks in Almaty are expected to build upon these developments and pave the way for a comprehensive peace treaty between the two countries.

Key Takeaways

• Kazakh President welcomes Azerbaijan-Armenia peace talks in Almaty.
• Talks to be held between foreign ministers, date to be announced later.
• Talks aim to establish lasting peace in the South Caucasus region.
• Negotiations facilitated by Kazakhstan, underscoring its role as a mediator.
• Talks expected to build on recent developments towards normalization and border demarcation.