Azerbaijan’s Minister of Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov said de facto peace already exists between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and that the completion of the remaining phases of the peace process will help ensure long-term stability and prosperity in the South Caucasus.

The Azerbaijani FM made these remarks at a joint press conference held with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov following the talks in Moscow.

FM Bayramov noted that the 44-day Patriotic War paved the way for creating a new security architecture in the South Caucasus based on the principles of international law, territorial integrity, and historical justice.

Minister Bayramov mentioned that the recent progress made in the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, including the agreement on the draft peace treaty, provide a unique opportunity to establish lasting peace, security and sustainable development in the region.

"We can say with confidence that today there is de facto peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan," the minister emphasized.

Bayramov stated that during the talks, he highlighted the large-scale reconstruction efforts underway in the liberated territories, the return of former IPDs, as well as the current state of the normalization process between Baku and Yerevan.

The Azerbaijani FM underscored that Baku's consistent peace initiatives, including confidence-building measures, have made significant contribution to the advancement of the peace process. He further added that the implementation of the outstanding issues will create the necessary environment to ensure a long-term peace, stability, and an atmosphere of trust in the region.

Touching upon the international agenda, FM Bayramov said that the parties also discussed the situation in the Middle East. The minister described diplomatic dialogue and strict adherence to international law as the only means of preventing further exacerbation and deterioration of the humanitarian situation.

Regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov stressed that Azerbaijan continues to express its deep concern about the military operations that cause human losses and negatively affect the stability of the region. The minister reaffirmed Azerbaijan's unwavering commitment to the principles of international law, calling for the reduction of tensions and the peaceful settlement.

Sharing his views on the outcomes of the talks, FM Bayramov expressed his confidence that the discussions held in Moscow were constructive, and that they would contribute to the further development of a positive agenda in Azerbaijan-Russia relations, as well as to interaction on regional and international issues.