By trend

The fact that the EU and Azerbaijan are working on a new relationship and on a new agreement to define this relationship is a sign that the EU increasingly sees Azerbaijan as a partner, as a country on a equality, the former US ambassador to Azerbaijan, Matthew Bryza told Trend.

He stressed that this is a much more equal relationship between the EU and Azerbaijan.

“Azerbaijan has a great first half of 2022 in terms of foreign policy. It’s extended for another year as the chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement shows that Azerbaijan is gaining the respect of so many countries around the world. Azerbaijan uses this leadership position to foster regional and international understanding and raise its own prestige,” Bryza said.

Speaking about the process of normalization of relations between Baku and Yerevan, the former American ambassador noted that Armenia has not fulfilled its obligations, because some forces of this country still cannot accept the results of the war.

“It seems clear to me that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wants to advance the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia and this includes a peace treaty and the definition of the international border between Azerbaijan and Armenia. But he continues to face internal opposition from people who cannot accept that Armenia was not victorious in this war and that Armenia was forced by Azerbaijan’s military victory to accept the conditions of the declaration of November 10. I think when Prime Minister Pashinyan tried to implement these points, domestic opposition intensified. Armenia simply did not fulfill these obligations, because too many people in Armenia still find it psychologically difficult to accept that Azerbaijan was victorious and Armenia lost. But I think with each passing month, more and more Armenians are beginning to realize that they have to let go of their maximalist goals and accept that the war is over and that they have an obligation to fulfill all the conditions of the 10 statement. But it will take a little longer and Prime Minister Pashinyan is strengthening his domestic position,” he explained.

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