President Ilham Aliyev not only restored Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, but also implemented new peace agenda in region

The historic meeting in Washington and the documents signed became a turning point in the future of the South Caucasus, Azerbaijani MP Azer Karimli told Report.

He noted that thanks to the far-sighted policy and decisive leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan not only restored its territorial integrity, but also put an end to the long-standing conflict in the region, implementing a new peace agenda.

"The greatest meaning of peace, first of all, is the preservation of human life. For Azerbaijan, this means saving the lives of dozens, hundreds of young people, preventing new suffering for families, preventing the destruction and tragedies that war brings," Karimli emphasized.

The deputy drew attention to the fact that the steps taken in Washington are not limited to diplomatic documents, but also give hope and a future to thousands of families.

"In recent years, there have been many internal and external forces that wanted to drag the region into wars again. These forces, with various political, ideological and geopolitical motives, wanted to continue the confrontation in the South Caucasus. However, President Ilham Aliyev, having consolidated the historic victory achieved in 2020, completely restored the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan and at the same time achieved the main strategic goal of the post-conflict period - the establishment of lasting peace," Azer Karimli said.

According to the parliamentarian, some countries in the region, in particular Iran, instead of genuinely supporting the peace process, sometimes openly and sometimes indirectly took steps to fuel tensions.

"Instead of respecting Azerbaijan's sovereign decisions, third parties' interference in our internal affairs does not contribute to stability in the region. Any country that truly advocates peace should respect the territorial integrity of its neighbors and abandon confrontational rhetoric. Sincere steps by Iran in this direction would be beneficial for both the region and bilateral relations. We respect all states that respect us. But if someone tries to talk to us in the language of pressure, our response will be immediate and harsh. Achieving peace means not only ending hostilities, but also opening up new economic opportunities, transport and communication projects, and regional cooperation formats," Karimli stated.

He also noted that this process strengthens mutual trust between the countries of the region, creates a safe environment for international investment and turns the South Caucasus into a center of geo-economic cooperation.

"President Ilham Aliyev has successfully fulfilled his historic mission thanks to the leadership he demonstrated both during the war and in the peace process. By combining diplomacy and political will, he made fundamental decisions that affect the fate of both the Azerbaijani people and the region. Today, Azerbaijan is not only a state that ensures its own security, but also acts as a guarantor of peace and stability in the region. The results of the head of state's visit to Washington showed that even the most complex conflicts can find a fair and sustainable solution thanks to the right strategy and resolute protection of national interests," Azer Karimli added.