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Armenia and Azerbaijan: A milestone on the road to lasting peace

Council of Europe

Secretary General
Strasbourg
8 August 2025

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, has made the following statement: "I warmly welcome today's initialing of the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement in Washington DC, which paves the way towards a final settlement of the long-standing conflict between the countries - both member states of the Council since 2001.

"This development marks a historic milestone towards lasting peace in the South Caucasus, a region whose stability is vital for the prosperity and security of all its peoples, including in Georgia. The Council of Europe stands ready to support Armenia and Azerbaijan as they turn this page in their shared history.

"In March, when the two countries announced the finalisation of negotiations on the draft Agreement on Peace and Establishment of Interstate Relations, I was particularly encouraged. The peace effort remained a constant topic of discussion with both leaders. I first addressed it with President Aliyev in Baku last year on the occasion of the COP, and continued to do so during my bilateral meeting with him at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in April. I also conveyed a message of strong support directly to both Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Aliyev during the European Political Community Summit in Tirana in May, and reiterated it most recently during my official visit to Yerevan.

"I commend the leaders and citizens of both nations for the political will, perseverance, and courage they show in working towards a just and lasting peace. Overcoming decades of mistrust, territorial disputes, and humanitarian challenges demands difficult but necessary compromises on all sides. "We encourage both countries to do their utmost to continue advancing towards peace - not only to rebuild trust, connectivity, and infrastructure, but also to actively strengthen our core values: democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, including through the full and effective implementation of judgements of the European Court of Human Rights.

"A just and sustainable peace will be measured by the resilience of institutions, the vibrancy of civic freedoms, and the well-being of all citizens. The Council of Europe will continue efforts to bring its contribution to such an outcome".