In a long-awaited historic step, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a permanent peace agreement yesterday, Friday, August 9, during a trilateral summit hosted by the White House with the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
The agreement, described as a turning point in the South Caucasus region, puts an end to decades of bloody conflict between the two countries and includes a commitment to a permanent ceasefire, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each party, as well as the establishment of full diplomatic and trade relations.
During the signing ceremony, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev surprised everyone by announcing a joint proposal with Armenia to nominate President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, in appreciation of his role in mediating and achieving this milestone. Aliyev said:
"I may agree with Prime Minister Pashinyan to make a joint appeal to the Nobel Committee to award President Trump the Nobel Peace Prize."
For his part, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed his full support for the initiative, stating:
"I believe that President Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, and we will advocate for this nomination and promote it."
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump, who led mediation efforts over the past months, expressed his pride in the agreement, saying during the trilateral ceremony:
"Thanks to this agreement, we have finally achieved peace. We just left the Oval Office after signing lengthy documents containing crucial provisions to ensure peace and stability."
Trump added:
"Armenia and Azerbaijan are committed to a permanent cessation of all combat operations and to building new relationships based on mutual respect, sovereignty, and territorial integrity."
At the conclusion of the summit, Azerbaijani President Aliyev emphasized the importance of courage and responsibility from both sides to move forward on the path of reconciliation, affirming that this agreement opens a new chapter of peace and cooperation in the South Caucasus.