In a landmark diplomatic breakthrough, Armenia and Azerbaijan finalized a peace agreement at the White House on Friday, signaling an end to a 36-year territorial dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev oversaw the initialing of the accord by their foreign ministers, with both nations pledging to ratify the deal in coming months.
The agreement emphasizes mutual recognition of territorial integrity and renounces force to resolve disputes. A joint statement declared: "The conditions have been created for our nations to finally embark on building good neighborly relations… after the conflict that brought immense human suffering."
President Aliyev expressed optimism about swift implementation, telling reporters the formal signing process would be expedited. The deal follows three decades of sporadic violence since a 1994 ceasefire, with the mountainous region remaining a flashpoint despite international mediation efforts.
Analysts suggest the agreement could reshape regional security dynamics in the South Caucasus while creating new economic opportunities. Business leaders anticipate improved cross-border infrastructure projects, particularly in energy and transportation sectors connecting Asia and Europe.
