Hajiyev: For Azerbaijan, the conflict is over. We are learning to live in peace and moving in that direction

Azerbaijan will continue making additional efforts to establish lasting peace in the South Caucasus and strengthen peace on the ground, Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan said.

Hajiyev said the final chapter of the Karabakh conflict was closed three years ago, after which Azerbaijan and Armenia entered a new era of peace.

He noted that August this year marked the first anniversary of the initialing of the peace agreement and the agreement on the establishment of interstate relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

“For Azerbaijan, the conflict is over. We are learning to live in peace and moving in that direction,” Hajiyev said.

He stressed that peace should mean not only the absence of confrontation, but also the strengthening of trust, reconstruction and development.

Hajiyev said the recent meeting between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia took place in a constructive atmosphere. The sides agreed to continue bilateral engagement to advance the peace agenda, strengthen confidence, and develop trade relations and transport connectivity between the two countries.

He also addressed the development of the TRIPP project.

“I am pleased to note the positive signals regarding the development of the TRIPP project. We are grateful to our American partners for their full commitment to its implementation. We hope the construction work will be completed in the near future,” Hajiyev said.

According to Hajiyev, construction of the railway and highway on Azerbaijani territory is nearly complete, while the entire project is expected to be finished by the end of this year or during next year.

“We are now focusing our efforts on implementing the Nakhchivan segment of this project,” he said.

Hajiyev said the project would create new transport connectivity not only for the region but also for a broader part of the Eurasian continent, strengthening East-West routes and the Middle Corridor.

“This will change the entire configuration of our region and, at the same time, ensure Armenia’s integration into regional processes,” he added.