They achieved the difficult, they signed for peace

The world had been longing for peace. Everywhere is conflict, everywhere is war. We thought peace was impossible, but it happened. It turns out it is possible if there is a will. It is easier than war, warmer, and certainly more becoming of a human being, of those who are truly human. 

I congratulate Azerbaijan and Armenia. Regardless of the background agreements or conditions, they signed for peace. Let us put aside for a moment the question of who the mediator was. The leaders of two countries that have been at war for forty years have left all that has been experienced behind, come together, and signed for peace. Perhaps, after a long interval, they have achieved a first for the sake of humanity, for their countries, and for their peoples.

 Even though the war between the two countries has ended, the people of the region were anxious. I have observed this during my frequent visits to Azerbaijan over the last three years. Young people were worried about the future. The potential threat of war was creating unrest among the people. Yet, the region is quite open to economic development with the natural gas, oil, and various mineral deposits it possesses. The country's fertile lands are also favorable for agriculture and livestock. On the other hand, it possesses a rich cultural heritage brought about by a deep-rooted history. 

I have not had the opportunity to go to Armenia, but thanks to the academic relationship and collaborations we have established with Azerbaijan, I have had the chance to get to know the country's people a little better. I made my first visit to the country in 2007. In 2023, when I made my second visit, the momentum the country showed in terms of development truly surprised me and made me very happy. The country has brought its own resources almost entirely under its own control, and the national economy has gained significant momentum through large-scale investments. I knew how much importance was given to art and culture in these lands, but the importance and support given to education truly excited me. Families allocate a large portion of their resources to their children's education. The Azerbaijani people are quite conscious in this regard. They are aware that development and progress are possible through education. Young people aim to study at important universities around the world. There is great interest in learning foreign languages. Orientation toward digital technologies, software, and artificial intelligence is very widespread. It is clear that the Azerbaijani people are building their future route on the axis of education. In this respect, they are a very visionary society. They do not deny that the years spent under Soviet rule made significant contributions to them in terms of art, culture, and science, but they are also aware of how much they have lagged behind in developing as themselves, with their own essence and their own character. For this reason, they are trying to close this gap as soon as possible. They are determined; they love their country. None of the young people I spoke with or met have dreams of living abroad. They want to go abroad, get an education at good universities, return to their own country, and contribute to the country's development. This truly impresses and moves me. For this reason alone, I feel very close to them. As an educator and an academic from my own country, I am determined to provide them with every kind of contribution I can from here. 

I think everything will be much more enjoyable from now on. The fact that Baku and Nakhchivan will be connected by road, and that the opportunity to travel from Turkey to Nakhchivan by road will arise, truly excites me. I anticipate that the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace will also significantly strengthen Turkey's interaction with the region. This will bring new opportunities for strengthening our academic and scientific collaborations with our Azerbaijani kin. 

In a period when the world is so full of conflict, no peace process is without its problems, of course. There will certainly be some important issues experienced here as well. First and foremost, Russia will not be pleased with America mediating the peace process. On the other hand, the long-standing silent tension between Iran and Azerbaijan may perhaps increase in intensity. Neither America nor Russia is innocent in the shaping of global-level relations. This must be accepted. However, taking a role as an actor in the peace process in the region will inevitably make America a bit stronger in the region. Indeed, it had begun to show this with the relationship and cooperation it initiated with Ukraine. Therefore, America appears to be the shining star of the region. This will have its costs as well as its benefits. It is not easy to predict this yet. But it is clear that the balances in the region are shifting. However, it is still too early to analyze this side of the issue, or at least let us leave it aside for now. The point that is important for us at the moment is that the heads of state of Azerbaijan and Armenia have achieved a historic success by signing for peace. Great suffering was endured, and great losses were sustained. But both country leaders managed to put all of this aside and come together to sign for peace for the sake of their peoples' future. The people of both countries have taken a sigh of relief. Now it is time for development. 

I believe that from now on, Azerbaijan will mobilize all its efforts and resources for the country's development. The development, progress, and growth of Azerbaijan are also very important for our country. The solidarity of the two countries' peoples and moving forward by adding strength to each other is also quite necessary for regional prosperity.