Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Germany, Nasimi Aghayev, said he greeted Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Armenian during a policy event in Berlin – a symbolic gesture he described as an act of goodwill and confidence in the region’s peace process.
In a statement shared on his official Facebook page, Aghayev said he attended a discussion hosted by the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), where Pashinyan delivered remarks. After the speeches, Aghayev was given the floor.
The ambassador said he spoke about the “ongoing peace and transformation” in the South Caucasus and reaffirmed that Azerbaijan was the initiator of the current peace agenda. He called for full implementation of the agreements reached during U.S.-mediated talks in Washington – particularly:
Opening of the TRIPP route,
Ensuring unimpeded connectivity between mainland Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan region, and
Removing constitutional obstacles in Armenia that currently prevent the formal signing of a bilateral peace treaty.
Aghayev emphasized that amending Armenia’s constitution remains “the last hurdle” before a final agreement can be signed.
In his post, the ambassador also highlighted the symbolic use of the Armenian language to greet Pashinyan:
“As a gesture of peace and goodwill, I greeted the Armenian Prime Minister in Armenian. I challenge Armenian ambassadors to also learn a few words in Azerbaijani and use them whenever they meet Azerbaijanis.”
He added that true reconciliation is built not only on political documents, but also on mutual respect for each other’s language and culture.
Aghayev concluded his statement by saying that Azerbaijan – having “fully restored its territorial integrity, sovereignty, and historical justice” – continues to demonstrate that it is a peace-oriented nation guided by moral values, and would carry this approach forward “with confidence and dignity.”
