Peace is very close.

The Netherlands [ENA] There are no longer any obstacles to signing a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia... Recently, the long-standing peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have concluded. The final terms of the treaty have been agreed upon. In previous negotiations, the parties could not fully agree on two key issues. These conditions were put forward by Azerbaijan:

These conditions were put forward by Azerbaijan: Armenia must recognize Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and remove its territorial claims from its constitution. Additionally, no state should station another country's military forces along its borders. It should be noted that the draft peace agreement consists of 17 articles. "Work on the text has been completed. In the next stage, Armenia must remove its territorial claims against Azerbaijan from its constitution. Furthermore, the Minsk Group and its remnants should be officially dissolved," said Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister, Jeyhun Bayramov, regarding the conclusion of the negotiations.

The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stated that the peace agreement is ready to be signed. "The Republic of Armenia is ready to begin consultations with the Republic of Azerbaijan regarding the date and place of signing the agreement," the ministry announced. These two Caucasus countries are very close to peace. Now, only the signing of the peace treaty remains. If the peace agreement is signed, the region will finally see peace after nearly 35 years. This will undoubtedly be of great significance for the region. It is clear that the agreement will be economically beneficial for both countries, especially for Armenia.

If the peace treaty is signed, Armenia will open its borders with both Azerbaijan and Turkey, which will provide substantial economic opportunities, particularly for Armenia. On the other hand, Azerbaijan is an important partner for Western countries, especially the United States. Given U.S.-Iran relations, Azerbaijan's shared border with Iran, and the fact that nearly 30 million ethnic Azerbaijanis live in Iran, Azerbaijan's strategic importance to the U.S. is increasing. At this point, it is useful to recall a historical fact: In 1813 and 1828, Azerbaijan was divided into two parts under treaties signed between Russia and Iran. A large portion of the country remained in Iran, while the other part became part of the Russian Empire.

In 1918, after the fall of the Russian Empire, Azerbaijan declared its independence, but in 1920, the Soviet Army reoccupied the country. Azerbaijan regained its independence in 1991. Around the same time, Armenia, with the support of Russia, occupied 20% of Azerbaijan’s territory, including Karabakh and seven surrounding districts. The United Nations has passed four resolutions regarding this occupation. In 2020, Azerbaijan liberated most of its occupied territories through a 44-day war. The Second Karabakh War, which began on September 27, ended on November 10 with a joint declaration signed by Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia. Under the terms of the agreement, Armenia withdrew from the remaining occupied territories.

Finally, on September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan conducted a one-day anti-terror operation, fully liberating its lands from occupation. After several years of peace negotiations, an agreement has finally been reached. It is important to note that regional powers, including Russia, Iran, and Western countries, all have interests in this region. Those who closely follow political developments are aware that a few days ago, U.S. Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff visited Moscow. According to reports from Israeli and Azerbaijani media, after completing his discussions in Moscow, Witkoff traveled to Azerbaijan.

Some political analysts link this visit to the upcoming peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, while others interpret it differently. Some even speculate that a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could potentially take place in Baku. Azerbaijan's balanced foreign policy between the West and Russia makes this scenario more plausible. In any case, Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the verge of signing a peace agreement, while Ukraine and Russia are one step away from a ceasefire.

The region needs peace. Although I do not fully consider myself a pacifist (someone who opposes all wars, including national liberation wars), I believe that leaders who succeed in ending wars should have their names written in history in golden letters. Swedish King Charles XII (1697-1718) once said: "I have resolved never to start an unjust war, but never to end a just one." Azerbaijan has rightfully liberated its lands and holds no territorial claims against Armenia.

Armenia has officially declared that it no longer has any territorial claims against Azerbaijan. There seems to be no remaining obstacles to signing a peace treaty between these two countries. However, there are still many unresolved issues between Ukraine and Russia. How these issues will be settled—whether justice will prevail or power and interests will dominate—remains to be seen. Our hope is for justice to triumph. Now, we wait to see the intentions of the world's great powers.