"The year 2021 can be considered as a successful year for solving a problem that has long been a painful geopolitical wound in the South Caucasus," Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security at the University of Birmingham, England, UK, told Report.
He noted that for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union, an excellent opportunity arose in 2021 to establish a long-term peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia:
"I believe that the countries will achieve this peace by demonstrating a strong will against third-party pressure. Thanks to this peace, the South Caucasus will become a new and strategic centre of communication in the world, which will be a historic opportunity for Armenia. I think the parties will be able to effectively benefit from the last year's opportunities in 2022, too," he said.
The professor noted that the restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity was a requirement of international norms, and this should not cause any revanchist irritation.