make preferableIn the current era of deeply fragmented geopolitics, what can transform the South Caucasus into an area of cooperation and interconnectedness? What new models and approaches can provide a positive result? This is the topic of the panel discussion entitled "South Caucasus at the Crossroads: Between Fragmentation and Cooperation" at the Yerevan Dialogue 2024 international forum in the Armenian capital.
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, referring to the topic, said that the South Caucasus has a long history; there have been times when there has been cooperation here, but there have also been times when countries in this region have been engaged in wars with each other, just like in other regions of the world.
"However, now we think that we have already seen enough bloodshed here. Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan have a real opportunity to close the page of hostility in this region and open an era of stability and peace. And we think that this will be beneficial for all of us—not only for these three states, but for the neighbors and the world in general," he added.
Mirzoyan noted that Armenia made its choice and chose the peace agenda, because it realizes the advantages of peace. However, it is important that other countries also make such a choice. According to him, moving forward in this way is quite realistic because there are brilliant examples of it in Europe.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that today Armenia is recording tangible results in the normalization of relations with Azerbaijan, in particular, border delimitation, agreement on the points of the draft peace treaty, etc.
The moderator of the panel discussion asked Xavier Bettel, Luxembourg's Vice Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Minister of Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, what advice Luxembourg can give to Armenia and the region and how Armenia can succeed in its strategic cooperation with the EU.
Bettel responded that countries do not have such an opportunity to choose their neighbors, and reminded that Luxembourg was repeatedly occupied by its neighbors, but over time they understood that having joint projects with neighboring countries is the best way to achieve peace.
Also, Bettel advised Armenia to stay on the right side of history because we cannot change history, but we can change the future together.
Another participant in the aforesaid panel discussion, the former president of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaite, said that Lithuania is similar to Armenia in many ways, but over the past 20 years, it has managed to provide living conditions in the country that meet European standards, and political will and cooperation with both neighboring and non-neighboring countries have helped the country in this regard. She added that Lithuania came to understand that it should be united and that political independence requires economic independence as well. Also, she noted that each country should take into account specific local characteristics in this matter and make decisions accordingly.
In turn, the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Lasha Darsalia, reflecting on the question of how Georgia imagines the future in the South Caucasus, especially when the country continues to face security problems, said that Georgia today has very good relations with both Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Referring to cooperation, Darsalia noted that it is important for all players to be engaged in cooperation and pursue their interests. Also, he expressed hope that the efforts aimed at the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and between Armenia and Turkey will be successful.
"Our region is entering a new era, new developments are taking place in our region, which opens doors for regional cooperation. Georgia is also committed to contribute to this regional cooperation; and one of the important issues here is the normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, and we [i.e. Georgia] are committed to playing our role in this process," he said, adding that he meant that Georgia should not undertake a mediation mission, but to assist those efforts.
How can Iran contribute to peace and stability in the region? Regarding this issue, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Hassan Sheikholeslami said that the world is changing, many things are changing in the global world order, and regions, including the South Caucasus which is very important for Iran, are gaining even greater importance in the context of these changes.
Sheikholeslami stated that it is very important for Iran to prevent any conflict from entering its territory. Economically, this region is also important for Iran, which is interested in using the energy resources of the South Caucasus to strengthen its connection with Europe, Eurasia, providing its transit infrastructure for this.
He noted that Iran has always been the driving force of peace and stability in the region and welcomes the efforts of Armenia and Azerbaijan towards peace and has always stressed the need to sign a peace treaty. The Iranian official emphasized that his country is stands ready to assist its neighbors to settle their conflicts as quickly as possible, and supports the unblocking of transportation routes in the region, stressing, however, the need to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of countries.
