Armenia and Azerbaijan Sign Historic Peace Deal in the White House (Worthy News Radio)

By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

WASHINGTON/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Armenia and Azerbaijan have signed a peace deal at the White House that will end decades of armed conflict that killed tens of thousands and led to the expulsion of more than 100,000 mainly Christian Armenians from the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. The leaders of both nations want to nominate U.S. President Donald J. Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize as he brokered the historic agreement.

Trump oversaw the historic handshake and signing of a document ending years of bloodshed. Armenia and Azerbaijan fought for nearly four decades for control of the Karabakh region, known internationally as Nagorno-Karabakh.

Christian Armenians mainly populated the area, but it is located within Azerbaijan.

The two nations battled for control of the region through multiple violent clashes that left tens of thousands of people dead.

Azerbaijan reclaimed all of the territory in 2023 in a battle that forced more than 100,000 Armenians, who comprised about 99 percent of the population, to flee.

Hundreds of civilians died during an explosion at a fuel distribution center, and scores of civilians were killed in the battle and en route while fleeing to Armenia.

POPE FRANCIS

It is unclear how many will eventually be able to return and rebuild their lives.

Late Pope Francis constantly advocated for a peaceful solution to the conflict. President Trump brought the sides together while speaking of a new beginning.

Trump said: “It’s a long time, 35 years. They fought and now they’re friends, and they’re gonna be friends for a long time. The, uh, country of Armenia and Azerbaijan are committing to stop all fighting forever, open up commerce, travel, and diplomatic relations, and respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

The two countries in the South Caucasus signed agreements with each other and the U.S. that will reopen key transportation routes while allowing the U.S. to seize on Russia’s declining influence in the region.

The deal includes an agreement to create a central transit corridor named the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity.

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said he agrees with Armenia to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. “So we lost a lot of years just being preoccupied with wars and occupation and, uh, bloodshed. So who, if not President Trump, deserves the Nobel Peace Prize? I don’t want to go into the history of some very strange decisions of the Nobel Peace Committee to award the prize for someone who didn’t do anything at all,” he said, sparking laughter in the audience. “But President Trump, in six months, did a miracle,” he added.

‘SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE’

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke of a historic moment in the relationship between the two countries. “Today, we have reached a significant milestone in Armenia-Azerbaijan relations by laying a foundation to write a better story than the one we had in the past. This is a success for our countries and for our region, and a success for the world because a more peaceful region means a safer world. This is peace through strength in a neutral,” the Armenian prime minister stressed.

He then addressed Trump, saying: “Mr. President, today’s great achievement is yet another testimony to your global leadership and your legacy as a statesman and a peacemaker on the world stage.”

Negotiations will now begin over who will develop the Trump Route, including a rail line, oil and gas pipelines, and fiber optic lines.

Officials say at least nine developers have already expressed interest in turning a bloodstained region into an area of prosperity and peace.

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