Ulviyya Zulfigar: Washington agreements mark important step in consolidating new regional reality

The agreements reached in Washington on August 8, 2025, marked an important stage in diplomatically consolidating the new reality that emerged in the region following years of conflict, political analyst Ulviyya Zulfigar told Report.

According to her, the political logic of the process is based on the peace concept proposed by Azerbaijan immediately after the end of the conflict.

"Five basic principles put forward at the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev clearly defined the legal and political foundations for future relations between the two countries. Principles such as mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, the inadmissibility of territorial claims, non-use of force, delimitation of borders, and the opening of communications became the main framework for the subsequent negotiation process. The results achieved in Washington demonstrated that this approach went beyond bilateral negotiations and became an internationally recognized and supported model for peace," she said.

Zulfigar also noted that the high-level involvement of the United States in the process carries particular political significance.

"Washington's involvement not only gave additional international weight to the Azerbaijani-Armenian peace agenda, but also demonstrated that the approach proposed by Azerbaijan to post-conflict settlement enjoys the support of leading international players," she said.

Zulfigar noted that, in this context, the TRIPP project, in addition to ensuring reliable connectivity between mainland Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan, could create opportunities for developing broader regional transport and trade networks.

"This means new economic opportunities for Azerbaijan, Armenia and the South Caucasus as a whole. At the same time, the region's growing role in the development of the Middle Corridor and other international transport routes could contribute to transforming the South Caucasus into a space for cooperation based on shared interests. Giving peace an economic dimension is one of the key conditions for its durability and sustainability," she added.