Talks with Azerbaijan raise hopes for peace, says Armenian leader

YEREVAN, Armenia (MNTV) — Efforts to establish peace with Azerbaijan are gaining importance among the Armenian public, with attitudes shifting in a more positive direction following ongoing diplomatic engagement, a regional civic leader said.

Giorgi Tumasyan, chair of the Georgian-Armenian Public Platform, said recent understandings between Armenia and Azerbaijan have strengthened hopes that decades of conflict can be brought to an end through negotiated settlement.

He said progress on border delimitation, contacts between civil society representatives, and steps toward economic cooperation have reassured Armenians that the peace process is moving in the right direction. “These developments convince the public that the steps being taken toward peace are correct,” Tumasyan told local media.

Tumasyan said improved relations could benefit citizens on both sides, particularly those living in border areas, citing enhanced security, cultural exchanges, trade links, and mutual respect as foundations for restoring ties between the two nations.

He acknowledged the deep scars left by years of conflict and said rebuilding relations would require caution, patience, and sustained commitment from both governments and societies. “Both societies carry wounds from the past,” he said. “This is a complex process, but willingness on both sides is the key.”

Tumasyan said Armenia and Azerbaijan could draw valuable lessons from Georgia, where Armenian and Azerbaijani communities have coexisted for decades despite the tensions between their home countries. He added that perceptions shaped by distance and social media often reinforce stereotypes, while direct contact allows people to recognize shared culture, values, and common interests.

He welcomed a decision by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to lift restrictions on cargo train movement between the two countries, calling it a constructive step that could help strengthen sustainable bilateral relations and build economic interdependence.

Tumasyan said the move could also improve Armenia’s connectivity with the Organization of Turkic States and enhance Azerbaijan’s role as a regional logistics hub, opening new trade routes for Armenia to Kazakhstan and Central Asia. “Commercial and economic engagement between Azerbaijan and Armenia is possible and can reinforce peace,” he said.

Tumasyan urged both sides to view Azerbaijan’s peace initiatives positively and expressed hope that remaining bilateral issues could be resolved through continued dialogue. He said Azerbaijan’s growing influence in the South Caucasus—through its foreign policy, role in regional transport corridors, and ties with Central Asia—encourages neighboring countries, including Armenia and Georgia, to deepen cooperation.

“Past mistakes should remain in the past,” he said. “Mutual respect must be restored, and relations built on that foundation, just as Europe transformed centuries of conflict into cooperation and lasting alliances.”