Current:Home > MarketsArmenia and Azerbaijan announce deal to exchange POWs and work toward peace treaty-InfoLens
Armenia and Azerbaijan announce deal to exchange POWs and work toward peace treaty
View Date:2024-12-23 10:53:33
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed Thursday to exchange prisoners of war and work toward signing a peace treaty in what the European Union hailed as a major step toward peace in the long-troubled region.
The two countries said in a joint statement they “share the view that there is a historical chance to achieve a long-awaited peace.” They said they intend “to normalize relations and to reach the peace treaty on the basis of respect for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Azerbaijan waged a lightning military campaign in September in the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The offensive ended three decades of rule there by ethnic Armenians and resulted in the vast majority of the 120,000 residents fleeing the region, which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.
Until Thursday’s announcement, the two countries had bitterly argued on the outline of a peace process amid mutual distrust.
As part of the deal, Armenia agreed to lift its objections to Azerbaijan hosting next year’s international conference on climate change.
Countries had been unable to agree on an eastern European host for the 2024 climate talks, with Russia vetoeing EU countries and Azerbaijan and Armenia nixing each other. A decision on the meeting’s location and presidency is due within the next week.
The joint statement said that “the Republic of Armenia supports the bid of the Republic of Azerbaijan to host the 29th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, by withdrawing its own candidacy.”
European Council President Charles Michel praised the agreement as a major breakthrough, saying on X that he particularly welcomes the deal to release detainees and make an “unprecedented opening in political dialogue.”
Michel called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to finalize a peace deal as soon as possible.
Armenia and Azerbaijan said in their statement that talks between Azerbaijan’s presidential administration and the office of Armenia’s prime minister led to an agreement “on taking tangible steps towards building confidence between two countries.”
Azerbaijan said it would release 32 captured Armenian military servicemen, while Armenia will release two Azerbaijani soldiers.
The two countries said they will continue their discussions “regarding the implementation of more confidence building measures” and called on the international community for support “that will contribute to building mutual trust between two countries.”
___
Associated Press writers Aida Sultanova in London and Seth Borenstein in Dubai contributed to this report.
veryGood! (244)
Related
- 'Devastation is absolutely heartbreaking' from Southern California wildfire
- Loyola Marymount forward Jevon Porter, brother of Nuggets star, arrested on DWI charge
- Buy 1 Kylie Cosmetics Lip Kit and Get 1 Free, Shop New Coach Discounts Every Hour & 92 More Daily Deals
- Caitlin Clark, Maya Moore and a 10-second interaction that changed Clark's life
- RHOBH's Kyle Richards Shares Reaction to BFF Teddi Mellencamp's Divorce
- Consumer groups push Congress to uphold automatic refunds for airline passengers
- Why Jason Priestley Left Hollywood for a Life in Nashville
- Tension grows on UCLA campus as police order dispersal of large pro-Palestinian gathering
- Taylor Swift's Dad Scott Swift Photobombs Couples Pic With Travis Kelce
- How to Watch the 2024 Met Gala and Live From E! on TV and Online
Ranking
- Who will save Florida athletics? Gators need fixing, and it doesn't stop at Billy Napier
- ‘A unicorn of a dog’: Bella the shelter dog has 5 legs and a lot of heart
- A United Airlines passenger got belligerent with flight attendants. Here's what that will cost him.
- Pro-Palestinian protests reach some high schools amid widespread college demonstrations
- Review: 'Emilia Pérez' is the most wildly original film you'll see in 2024
- Brittney Griner says she thought about killing herself during first few weeks in Russian jail
- Dallas Mavericks hand LA Clippers their worst postseason loss, grab 3-2 series lead
- What is May's birthstone? A guide to the colorful gem and its symbolism
Recommendation
-
Week 10 fantasy football rankings: PPR, half-PPR and standard leagues
-
Arizona will repeal its 1864 abortion ban. Democrats are still planning to use it against Trump
-
Buy 1 Kylie Cosmetics Lip Kit and Get 1 Free, Shop New Coach Discounts Every Hour & 92 More Daily Deals
-
Ethan Hawke and Maya Hawke have a running joke about ‘Wildcat,’ their Flannery O’Connor movie
-
Florida State can't afford to fire Mike Norvell -- and can't afford to keep him
-
Why Zendaya's Met Gala 2024 Dress Hasn't Been Made Yet
-
President Joe Biden calls Japan and India ‘xenophobic’ nations that do not welcome immigrants
-
Alaska Senate passes budget differing from House version with roughly $1,580 payments to residents