Armenia and Azerbaijan announce they are taking “measures” to normalize their relations

A step towards reconciliation? Armenia and Azerbaijan promised on Thursday December 7 to take “concrete measures” to calm their relationships. The joint declaration follows three decades of conflict between these two Caucasian countries for control of the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, reconquered in September by Baku.

After talks between the Armenian Prime Minister’s Office and the Azerbaijani Presidency. Yerevan and Baku pledged to take “concrete measures aimed at strengthening confidence”. They also reaffirmed “their intention to normalize their ties and sign a peace agreement” and agreed on the release of 32 Armenian prisoners of war, in exchange for that of two Azerbaijani soldiers.

Peace talks between the two former Soviet republics are making little progress, despite several rounds of negotiations led separately in recent months by Russia, the European Union and the United States. On Xthe President of the European Council, Charles Michel, nevertheless welcomed this joint declaration and the announced release of prisoners, describing them as“major breakthrough” and D’“unprecedented openness in political dialogue”.