Eka Tkeshelashvili: Final peace between Baku and Yerevan will be landmark event for entire region

The signing of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia will be a landmark event for the entire region, as it will provide a boost for comprehensive cooperation, former Deputy Prime Minister of Georgia Eka Tkeshelashvili said, commenting on the completion of negotiations on the peace agreement text between Baku and Yerevan.

"The signing of the peace agreement is an anticipated event and, without a doubt, will be significant for the entire region," Tkeshelashvili said on the sidelines of the 12th Global Baku Forum.

According to the politician, for the successful conclusion of the process, the agreement must be mutually acceptable to both sides.

"It is inherently positive that this is a bilateral process, meaning that the sides are discussing issues directly, without intermediaries. The involvement of third parties makes the dialogue formal and minimizes real progress," she said.

Tkeshelashvili stressed that the negotiations are taking place amid the deepening and expansion of regional partnerships, and in this context, the final peace between Baku and Yerevan will act as a catalyst for the development of transport links and cooperation in the region.

"Azerbaijan has made it clear from the very beginning that it is ready for cooperation. But if an agreement is reached, I am confident that the sides will be able to find common ground for the development of bilateral cooperation," she added.

The former Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that strategic partnerships and alliances with Georgia and Türkiye have always played a key role in Azerbaijan's foreign policy.

"Moreover, in recent years, interaction with Central Asian countries has strengthened. Over the decades, Azerbaijan has built strong cooperation with all these countries. This has allowed the country to strengthen its security in this complex world," she concluded.