The locomotive of the world is already on its way

The interaction between Azerbaijan and Armenia has transitioned to practical normalization and institutionalization of peace. Following the initialing of the peace agreement at the Washington Summit, key contacts between the parties have shifted toward implementing concrete interstate steps and shaping a new geopolitical reality in the South Caucasus, writes the newspaper "Caspiy."

The leaders of the two countries continue to maintain a regular working dialogue. In August, a telephone conversation took place between President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. The parties confirmed their mutual political will to finalize the peace agenda.

Work also continues on the official signing and subsequent ratification of the agreement "On the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations." On the agenda is a consistent process of delimitation and demarcation of the state border based on agreed legal mechanisms. Simultaneously, the diplomatic agencies of both countries are conducting detailed discussions on unblocking and launching regional transport and communication lines.

Prospects for cooperation

The long-term plans of the Armenian government (the program for 2026-2031) officially include a point on the intention to establish bilateral trade with Azerbaijan. Steps are also being developed toward gradually establishing ties between business circles and intensifying contacts at the level of civil societies of both republics.

However, despite the readiness of the parties to put the final signature, the process faces a legal obstacle: official Baku states that the final agreement will not be signed until Armenia amends its Constitution.

As for the unblocking of regional transport routes, the essence of the TRIPP project lies in a compromise format for creating a special transit zone through Armenian territory that would connect the main territory of Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave.

The format has been designed so that Azerbaijan would receive unimpeded access to its territory, while at the same time fully respecting Armenia's sovereignty and jurisdiction over this corridor. The United States acts as a key guarantor and partner in developing this transport artery, the agreement on which could be calculated for a term of up to 99 years.

The border delimitation process has also moved from political declarations to practical demarcation. Delimitation commissions are working on the basis of Soviet maps, step by step agreeing on meters of the state border. For example, on the border in the Tavush-Gazakh zone, these steps led to the actual transfer of territories under the control of border services of both countries, which allowed