The 8th Summit of the “European Political Community” has been held in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.
elchi reports that the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, delivered a speech at the event via video link.
Speech by President Ilham Aliyev
– Good morning and greetings from Baku. First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to President Costa for the invitation to speak at the “European Political Community” Summit.
During President Costa’s visit to Azerbaijan less than two months ago, we discussed my participation in the Summit and agreed that I would join the event via video link. I would also like to inform the audience that a year ago, during my visit to Tirana, President Costa and President von der Leyen asked for my opinion on the idea of organizing the Summit in Armenia in May 2026. I supported it. In turn, I proposed that one of the next Summits be held in Azerbaijan to maintain a balanced approach. The proposal was accepted. Thus, I invite the members of the “European Political Community” to the Summit to be held in Azerbaijan in May 2028. By the way, Armenia also supported our candidacy. This is a clear indicator that peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia is real. We have been in conditions of peace for only nine months, and we are learning to live in peace.
In August of last year, in Washington, at the White House, the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a Joint Declaration. President Trump, as already noted, also signed as a witness. The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan initialed the text of the peace treaty. For us, and I am sure for our Armenian colleagues, peace has been established. Based on the fact that peace has been achieved, Azerbaijan unilaterally lifted all transit restrictions imposed on Armenia since the early 1990s. So far, 28,000 tons of cargo have been delivered to Armenia through the territory of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has even taken additional steps. For the first time, we began supplying our oil products – gasoline and diesel – to Armenia. Thus, trade relations have begun. To date, 12,000 tons of our oil products have been exported to Armenia.
Another achievement in the field of peace is connectivity. “Trump’s International Peace and Prosperity Route” will connect Azerbaijan with its exclave Nakhchivan, and at the same time, it will become part of the Middle Corridor. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan are already seeing the tangible results of peace. Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my gratitude to the European Commission for its position in the Armenia-Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process.
However, unfortunately, not all European institutions exhibit the same approach. One of them is the European Parliament, and the other is the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). Azerbaijan has been a member of the Council of Europe since January 2001. By the way, at that time, as a member of parliament and head of the Azerbaijani delegation, I was one of the active members of PACE. Until January 2024, no restrictions had ever been imposed on our delegation in the Council of Europe. In September 2023, Azerbaijan put an end to separatism in Karabakh. We ourselves implemented the 4 resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council in 1993, which had remained on paper for 30 years. Four months later, PACE imposed sanctions on our delegation. Unfortunately, double standards seem to be the work manual of PACE today. Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity has the same value as the territorial integrity of any other country. Double standards in this matter are unacceptable.
Now let’s take the European Parliament. Instead of supporting the peace process, this institution is engaged in sabotage against it. Just six months after the end of the Second Karabakh War – from May 2021 to April 30, 2026 – the European Parliament has adopted 14 resolutions full of insults and lies regarding Azerbaijan. Just imagine: 14 resolutions in five years is an addiction. The most recent one was adopted just four days ago – deliberately on the eve of the Summit. Instead of solving fundamental problems such as xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, migration, competitiveness, and the issue of homeless people, the European Parliament targets Azerbaijan by spreading slander and lies. The reason is that Azerbaijan has restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty, ended separatism, and brought war criminals to justice. In response, the Parliament of Azerbaijan officially decided on May 1 to stop cooperation with the European Parliament in all areas, end participation in the work of the EU-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, and initiate procedures related to suspending membership in the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly. Considering that at the “European Political Community” Summits we openly exchange our views and issues of concern, I just wanted to inform our colleagues about what happened in this case so that there is no misinformation and manipulation regarding the final decision.
In conclusion, I would like to congratulate Prime Minister Pashinyan on the “European Political Community” Summit being held in Armenia. I state that despite all the efforts of the parties that want to hinder the process, Azerbaijan is committed to the peace agenda, and my Armenian colleague’s comments clearly show this. I wish the Summit success. Thank you.
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At the event, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke, stating that peace has now been achieved with Azerbaijan, there have been no casualties on either side for two years, and this period is the most unique years we have experienced since our independence. He noted that the parties are now working closely to strengthen and institutionalize peace between the two countries. The Prime Minister of Armenia emphasized for the first time that the President of Azerbaijan is participating in an event held in Armenia, even if in an online format, and expressed hope that there will be an opportunity to visit Azerbaijan to participate in the 10th meeting of the “European Political Community” in 2028. Nikol Pashinyan also emphasized that Armenia and Azerbaijan have mutually supported each other’s candidacy to host the “European Political Community” meeting.
President of the European Council Antonio Costa expressed his gratitude to the participants of the event and to President Ilham Aliyev, who joined the meeting via videoconference. He stated that this meeting is historic because its holding was possible thanks to the agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This agreement is a peace story in Europe, which should be welcomed in a world where escalation and war dominate.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy began his speech with an important message. “We wish Armenia and Azerbaijan only peace – a sustainable, comprehensive, long-term peace. We wish this, Prime Minister, to you, to President Aliyev, and to the peoples of both countries,” he emphasized.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also declared that he joined the congratulations for the progress made towards peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan and greeted President Ilham Aliyev.
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12:26
The 8th Summit of the “European Political Community” is being held in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.
The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, delivered a speech at the event via video link.
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12:19
The 8th Summit of the “European Political Community” is being held in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.
The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, is delivering a speech at the event via video link.
