BAKU, Azerbaijan April 21. Sustainable peace
between Azerbaijan and Armenia will contribute to a greater
predictability in the South Caucasus, Minister for Europe and
Foreign Affairs of Albania, Ferit Hoxha said in an exclusive
interview with Trend on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy
Forum.
“First of all, we are happy that peace has prevailed. So, in
this respect, any credible progress in strengthening long-term
peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia is a positive
development, as it strengthens stability and development in a
region known for its strategic importance for energy, connectivity,
and broader European security. Sustainable peace will contribute to
greater regional predictability, improve the climate for
cooperation, and strengthen connectivity corridors between Europe
and the wider Eurasian space.
It is therefore essential that this progress be consolidated
through the full and consistent implementation of the agreements
reached. Lasting peace requires not only political commitment at
the highest level, but also sustained efforts to build trust,
ensure transparency, and establish effective mechanisms for dispute
resolution and regional cooperation. Without these elements,
progress risks remaining fragile and reversible,” he noted.
Hoxha pointed out that from the Albanian viewpoint, stability in
the Caucasus carries implications that extend well beyond the
region itself.
“It is closely linked to Europe’s energy diversification
efforts, the resilience of key transport and trade routes, and the
broader security architecture of the continent. In this context,
peace in the Caucasus should be understood not only as a regional
objective, but as a strategic contribution to Europe’s overall
stability, resilience, and long-term prosperity,” the Albanian
minister added.
On August 8, 2025, following a trilateral meeting with US
President Donald Trump in Washington, Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint
declaration on ensuring peace between Baku and Yerevan and
establishing transport links between the main part of Azerbaijan
and Nakhchivan. This project is called “Trump’s Route to
International Peace and Prosperity.”
During the meeting, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic
of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of
the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan initialed the draft
“Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations
between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia” and
signed a joint appeal by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia to the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office (on the closure of the OSCE Minsk Process,
Personal Representative OSCE Chairman-in-Office on the conflict
discussed by the Minsk Conference, and High-level Planning
Groups).