Will there be 'peace' between Armenia and Azerbaijan? Stoltenberg's Caucasus tour

12PUNTO FOREIGN NEWS

Jens Stoltenberg met with President Vahagn Khachaturyan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan, Armenia, on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, as part of his South Caucasus trip.

Emphasizing the importance of stability in the South Caucasus, the Secretary General called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to normalize their relations and 'reach an agreement that will pave the way for a lasting peace.'

Stoltenberg stated, "In these days when we are facing a more dangerous world, this is important for Euro-Atlantic security. NATO supports Armenian sovereignty, territorial integrity, and your peaceful aspirations." 

The NATO Secretary General also drew attention to Armenia's commitment to ensuring democratic control of its armed forces by participating in NATO's Building Integrity Program. 

IS ARMENIA SHIFTING TOWARD THE 'WEST'?

The close relations between Armenia and Russia, which had continued since the Soviet era, began to deteriorate after Pashinyan came to power. Following Russia's failure to support Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh war, many experts argued that Armenia might be experiencing a 'shift in axis.' 

Armenia suspended its membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in recent weeks.

The CSTO consists of Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The foundation of the CSTO is the principle of collective defense in the event of an attack on the territory of member countries.

Following the Nagorno-Karabakh war, Armenia claimed that the CSTO had failed to fulfill its responsibilities.

STOLTENBERG'S VISIT TO AZERBAIJAN

Meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on Sunday, March 17, Stoltenberg said, "Energy is important for our security, and I welcome the fact that Azerbaijan is developing increasingly close relations with many NATO allies."

In his speech, Stoltenberg underscored that 'peace and stability are important not only here but also for security in a broader sense' and used the following expressions:

"Armenia and Azerbaijan now have the opportunity to achieve a lasting peace after years of conflict. I can encourage you to seize this opportunity to reach a lasting peace agreement with Armenia."

News Source: 12punto