Changing public attitudes key to normalizing ties with Azerbaijan: Armenian official

YEREVAN, Armenia (MNTV) – Amid progress in efforts to normalize relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, changing public sentiment remains a key task for the governments of both countries, Arayik Harutyunyan said in an interview with Armenpress, Report informs.

According to Harutyunyan, the long-standing conflict between the two South Caucasus nations continues to be extremely sensitive for both Armenian and Azerbaijani societies.

However, he said significant progress has already been made in bilateral relations, highlighting the outcome of the Washington Summit.

Harutyunyan noted that economic routes are gradually being reopened, infrastructure projects are being developed and logistics chains are being simplified.

“Goods from various countries are already arriving in Armenia via shorter routes through Azerbaijan. I am also confident that supplies in the opposite direction will soon be established. Reciprocal visits between civil society representatives are taking place, and the countries’ leaderships are actively communicating,” he said.

“This demonstrates that we have come a long way and the settlement is advancing very quickly. This is very important and, in a sense, exceptional, as conflicts with a history of around 40 years are usually resolved much more slowly, which is not the case here,” Harutyunyan added.