Brenda Shaffer: Some external forces don’t want peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan

There are external forces that don’t want peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, while, mutual recognition of each other’s territorial integrity and respect for this principle by other external actors in the region is the way to resolve the issue, Professor of US Naval Post Graduate School Brenda Shaffer told Report correspondent, sent to Zangilan and Jabrayil districts.

According to her, Zangilan plays a strategic role, being geographically located at the intersection of transport routes and communications between Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Turkiye and Armenia.

Countries like Azerbaijan and Turkiye understand its importance and are trying to develop transport infrastructure here, create corridors, helping to unblock ties in the region. On the other hand, there are forces that want to hinder this process, the development of conditions for trade and the use of existing strategic opportunities. So, there are external forces that are trying to prevent peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, she said.

Of course, the two countries can come to an agreement, but this is not enough, it is important that there are no attempts by other countries to interfere with this peace, Shaffer said.

She added that the most important principle for establishing peace between the two countries is the mutual recognition of each other’s territorial integrity.

Armenia must withdraw its forces and return to Azerbaijan the villages that are located on the border, in the part that is closer to Georgia, and not only in Karabakh, she stressed, adding that the full sovereignty of Azerbaijan in Karabakh must be restored.

In fact, everything is very simple, Azerbaijan has already stated that it respects the territorial integrity of Armenia, Shaffer said.

Just as Azerbaijan says that it respects the territorial integrity of Armenia, it itself, as well as Russia, the US, Iran must also agree to this principle, Brenda Shaffer concluded, adding that this is the way to resolve the conflict.