We have always wanted to build good relations with the US, we express our deep gratitude to Trump.
“Elchi” reports that President Ilham Aliyev stated this at the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum.
“There is a big difference between President Donald Trump’s approach and the approach of previous US administrations. Unfortunately, during the approximately 30-year occupation, US administrations, together with other co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, pursued a policy aimed not at the liberation of Azerbaijani territories, but at freezing the conflict, based on the UN Security Council resolutions they themselves had adopted. Their goal was to freeze the situation and use it as a leverage against both Azerbaijan and, to some extent, Armenia. Their activities were carried out in a fully coordinated manner, and all the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group served not to resolve the conflict, but to ensure the occupation continued indefinitely. President Trump’s approach, however, was completely different. He is a peace-loving politician who creates peace in various regions of the world. As he himself said, he has contributed to the resolution of eight conflicts. This is his character, his vision, and his policy. In our case, his role was also very important when the negotiations on the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace treaty reached the final stage. President Trump and his team joined the process and created a framework that made peace possible. They fully understood our concerns regarding peace. They also clearly understood the necessity of the Zangezur corridor, which will connect the main part of Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, and they worked very effectively to convince Armenia that this peace was important for it.
During the historic meeting at the White House, the Prime Minister of Armenia, President Trump, and I signed a joint declaration. Also, with the participation of President Trump, the foreign ministers of both countries initialed the peace treaty. Furthermore, we signed a document on the creation of a joint working group for the preparation of a Strategic Partnership Agreement within six months. Exactly six months later, this work was completed. It was the first time in my experience that US officials kept their word so precisely. Thus, from August of last year to February of this year, the entire process was concluded, and then Vice President J.D. Vance came to Baku. We signed the Strategic Partnership Declaration. It was truly amazing. Frankly, we could only wish for such a development. We have always wanted to build good relations with the US. However, the influence of the Armenian lobby, stereotypes about Azerbaijan, and the failure to properly assess our country’s potential hindered this. As I said, when President Biden was a senator, he was one of the initiators of sanctions against Azerbaijan.
His view of the region was different. It was considered easier to manage a region that is in conflict and confrontation,” President Ilham Aliyev emphasized.
The head of state noted that President Trump has a completely different character and a different vision: “He wants peace and sees peace as a factor that creates new opportunities. Now, after peace has been achieved between Azerbaijan and Armenia, very broad opportunities have emerged. Currently, President Trump has named the corridor that will connect the main part of Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan after himself, calling it TRIPP. According to the information we have received, practical work on that project is expected to begin this year. This project will completely change the transport map of the region, serve to strengthen security in the South Caucasus, and form a new positive environment for cooperation in the region. We are in great need of this. We express our deep gratitude to President Trump, personally to him and his team. I would especially like to mention the names of Steve Witkoff and Ari Lightstone. Together with President Trump, they played a decisive role in achieving peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia.”