Council of Europe Secretary General: Meeting with President Ilham Aliyev was very successful – EXCLUSIVE

Azerbaijan and Armenia have made significant progress in the peace process, Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset said in an interview with Report.

He noted that the peace agreement initialed in Washington on August 8, with the participation of the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia and the US president, is of exceptional significance not only for the peoples of the two countries but also for the entire region: "Considering everything that is happening in this peace process, I can say that this is a very positive development, and we are sincerely pleased to see this progress. We are, of course, closely following the events in Washington. As is well known, the Council of Europe has been working with all member states for many years, including Azerbaijan and Armenia. This means that the Council of Europe is the right platform for ongoing dialogue between countries. The opportunity for dialogue exists, and that is why we have always strongly supported this peace process. I personally maintain constant contact with President Ilham Aliyev."

The Secretary-General praised his meeting with the President of Azerbaijan at UN Headquarters in New York during High-Level Week: "We had a very successful meeting, during which we discussed the peace process. I also remain in touch with the Prime Minister of Armenia. This is important for achieving progress, understanding our joint prospects, and identifying avenues for developing cooperation. The peace achievements supported by Azerbaijan and Armenia are a great success. We should not only commend them but also view them as new opportunities for expanding cooperation. Stability, peace, and predictability are essential in today's world, but in many places, this is not evident. Therefore, we must participate in these processes. The signing of the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the restoration of ties is truly positive. This opens new prospects for deeper cooperation."

Berset added that, as Secretary General of the Council of Europe, he had repeatedly visited countries in the region, advocating for all opportunities for peacebuilding: "I would like to emphasize once again that the South Caucasus is a very important region for the Council of Europe. Therefore, in recent months and years, we have visited all countries in the region, cooperated closely, and never forgotten this context. We take into account how member states operate, how cooperation is built, and how steps are taken to ensure stability. We need the joint work of all possible institutions. There must be transparency. We must achieve clear goals together. Joint work, mutual recognition, and constant cooperation are the best way to ensure stability. The world is changing and will continue to change. The question is how to ensure stability, relations, and cooperation in a rapidly changing world. This means that we need a European organization, but at the same time, all three countries of the South Caucasus – Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia – are members of the Council of Europe. This allows us to cooperate and work together on a daily basis. The meeting with President Aliyev was very successful. It is clear to us that severing ties, refusing to cooperate, or turning our backs on each other is never a good solution. The best option is to always work together, acknowledge differences, cooperate, and follow a common path. This is the best way to ensure the best conditions for our peoples."