Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that rhetoric shaped by decades of conflict can still be observed in both Armenia and Azerbaijan, addressing relations between the two countries.
He made the remarks during joint statements with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, noting that the two nations have lived in an environment of hostility for nearly 40 years, according to 1lurer.am .
“It is impossible to simply switch off hostility and press a button for peace, as if enmity disappears overnight. We must understand that this is an inevitable process of inertia. Even if a peace agreement were signed and ratified now, the most important institutionalization of peace happens in people’s minds and at the socio-psychological level.
These changes may not be measurable in figures, but I am convinced that the process is unfolding much faster than could have been expected.
Therefore, I am confident that we will reach the point where, along the path of institutionalizing peace, we will sign a peace agreement,” he said.
Pashinyan added that signing and ratifying a peace agreement would not mark the end of the process, as continued work and additional agreements would be necessary.
“In this context, the TRIPP project is extremely important, as are the initiatives discussed with the EU. When we fully open our roads to each other, including the opening of the border with Turkey, which I have no doubt will happen, it will be a significant step toward institutionalizing peace.
We will provide each other with access to roads for free movement and cargo transportation, enabling trade from Armenia to Armenia via Azerbaijan and from Azerbaijan to Azerbaijan via Armenia, including unhindered communication between mainland Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, based on territorial integrity, sovereignty, and jurisdiction,” he said.
He added that this framework also offers significant potential for further development of Armenia–EU cooperation.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan hosted European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the presidential residence as part of the Armenia–EU summit.
