Baku, April 9, 2025 – The Europe Today: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday emphasized the importance of initiating practical, confidence-building steps between Azerbaijan and Armenia during his address at the international forum titled “Facing the New World Order” held at ADA University in Baku.
In his remarks, President Aliyev proposed the launch of modest yet meaningful initiatives to foster dialogue and reduce mistrust between the two nations.
“The small steps can start, like exchange of visits of journalists, intellectuals, maybe joint sessions on transboundary rivers, because this is a serious concern for Azerbaijan, as Armenia is polluting the Araz River,” the President stated, highlighting environmental cooperation as a potentially impactful starting point.
He also underlined the broader need to address environmental challenges affecting regional water resources, noting: “By the way, the Kura River needs to be addressed more properly on its route to Azerbaijan. So all that can have a practical impact.”
President Aliyev reiterated Azerbaijan’s willingness to engage in such initiatives, acknowledging that while building trust may be a long-term process, reducing mistrust through practical cooperation is an achievable short-term goal. “To build trust it will take years, but at least to reduce it. So we are ready for that,” he affirmed.
The President’s comments come amid continued international efforts to promote peace, dialogue, and sustainable cooperation in the South Caucasus region.
