Tokayev backs Azerbaijan-Armenia reconciliation process

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev supported the reconciliation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, saying the example of the South Caucasus clearly shows what results farsighted leadership can achieve. Tokayev said the rapprochement, after decades of deep disagreements, opens new prospects and creates opportunities to build bridges between East and West.

Speaking at the 7th summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), Tokayev proposed jointly developing a CICA Strategy on transport connectivity. He said the strategy would examine the potential of major international transport routes in the region, including the Belt and Road Initiative, the North-South international transport corridor, the Middle Corridor and the TRIPP initiative.

Tokayev also said energy security is under threat of complete collapse and that cross-border energy infrastructure is increasingly exposed to conflicts, which keeps energy markets unstable worldwide. He noted that Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan signed a strategic partnership agreement on green energy supply, laying the basis for a Caspian Green Energy Corridor that would link their power systems and connect them to European markets via the Black Sea. He began his speech by thanking Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for his hospitality and the excellent organisation of the summit.