EU: It is important for Azerbaijan, Armenia to sign and ratify peace treaty

The implementation of agreed steps between Azerbaijan and Armenia are expected to have a positive impact the overall peaceful development of the South Caucasus and to help the parties move closer to sustainable peace and shared prosperity, the European Union (EU) said in a statement on the initialing of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Treaty, according to Report.

"We welcome the 8th August agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan by Prime Minister Pashinyan and President Aliyev, in the presence of President Trump in the White House, marking a significant breakthrough to end decades of conflict. It will now be important to ensure the timely implementation of the agreed steps, notably the signing and ratification of the peace treaty," the statement says.

It notes that following the finalisation of bilateral Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations on the text of the peace agreement last March, this represents an important and decisive next step towards full-fledged normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, based on mutual recognition of each other\s sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders in line with the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration.

"Once implemented, the steps agreed are expected to have a positive impact on the overall peaceful development of the region, and to help bring societies divided by legacies of conflict closer to sustainable peace and shared prosperity.

We observe that this important momentum is being maintained, also in view of the confirmation by the Secretary General Berset that the Council of Europe stands ready to support Armenia and Azerbaijan as they turn this page in their shared history.

The EU fully supports the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalisation process and has been working for years with both parties and our international partners to create the conditions for lasting peace. We continue to stand ready to work with partners towards full-fledged normalisation, providing additional support and expertise, including for the practical implementation of next steps," reads the statement.