Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has expressed satisfaction with the recent accord between Armenia and Azerbaijan, signaling progress towards conflict resolution. The MFA conveyed its approval of the joint statement made by the two nations on Thursday, particularly focusing on the mutual release of detained Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers and the implementation of other confidence-building measures. In a statement published on the X platform on Friday, the ministry emphasized the significance of these actions as a crucial step toward achieving a comprehensive peace agreement.
As reported by the Azerbaijani state news agency AZERTAC, Armenia and Azerbaijan have reached an agreement to exchange prisoners of war, marking a positive development in their protracted conflict. Under the terms of the deal, Baku has committed to releasing 32 Armenian soldiers in exchange for the release of two Azerbaijani soldiers currently held in Armenian prisons.
The background to this reconciliation effort stems from Azerbaijan’s regaining control of Nagorno-Karabakh in September. This region, recognized as part of Azerbaijan under international law, had been inhabited by Armenians and controlled by Armenian separatists for several decades. The unacknowledged republic is slated to dissolve at the beginning of 2024.
The joint statement, issued following talks between representatives from both countries, highlighted a shared belief in a historic opportunity to achieve long-awaited peace in the region. Armenia and Azerbaijan affirmed their commitment to normalizing relations and establishing a peace treaty grounded in respect for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In a notable diplomatic gesture, Armenia also announced its withdrawal from the bid to host the annual UN climate summit next year, and it will no longer oppose Azerbaijan’s candidacy for the same. This move comes after both nations had been blocking each other in the selection process for hosting COP29 in 2024 until Thursday’s breakthrough agreement.