"As a result of President Ilham Aliyev's political will and strategic vision, the peace agenda has become a main priority in the South Caucasus. The continuous contacts between the political leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia over the past 6 months indicate that the interstate normalization process has acquired a consistent and principled character. The fact that these activities are not limited to diplomatic contacts but are built on real economic ties confirms that this process is irreversible".
Modern.az reports that this was stated by MP Rizvan Nabiyev at the plenary session of the Milli Majlis.
According to the MP, in this context, the anticipated visit of US Vice President J.D. Vance to Baku with a broad agenda including bilateral and multilateral cooperation projects confirms new realities.
"Especially considering that the United States last organized a visit to our country at the Vice President level 18 years ago. This visit can also be regarded as a continuation of the political dialogue conducted between President Aliyev and President Trump in Washington last August and in Davos this January. The meeting presents a unique opportunity for discussions around existing challenges and regional realities for the practical implementation of projects in various fields serving peace and stability.
The visit creates conditions for the US to expand its comprehensive cooperation opportunities against the backdrop of the new political reality formed by Azerbaijan in the region".
The MP noted that one of the important points is that this visit coincides with the end of the 6-month period allocated for the preparation of the Azerbaijan–US Strategic Partnership Charter.
"The main issue is the principled policy pursued by the political leaders of both countries towards elevating relations to the level of strategic partnership. This holds particular importance for the formation of an institutional framework for practical cooperation in Azerbaijan–US relations.
Azerbaijan holds a central position in the US strategy for Central Asia, as well as for the South Caucasus. Especially in the supply of precious metals and minerals from Central Asia to America, Azerbaijan's strategic geographical position and the infrastructure it has created play a decisive role. The Zangazur corridor and the TRACECA route, as key segments of the Middle Corridor, are of particular importance in this process. The establishment of the B5+1 business platform, an analogue of the C5+1 political dialogue format, these days indicates plans for the institutionalization of US-Central Asia cooperation. Azerbaijan's accession to the Central Asia Consultative Dialogue Platform necessitates the conduct of these mechanisms in a Six-party format.
The messages delivered by President Ilham Aliyev during his meeting with members of the American Chamber of Commerce also demonstrated the importance of business projects for the sustainability of bilateral relations.
Thus, on Vice President Vance's visit agenda, cooperation issues in the region, based on the advantages of the new status quo created by Azerbaijan and transcending regional borders, are at the forefront. President Ilham Aliyev's peace agenda being highly appreciated by President Trump on various international platforms, as well as the reliable personal relations existing between the two leaders, are also among the main factors determining the success of bilateral political relations", he stated.
