During an interview with China's Phoenix TV channel on March 29, Hikmet Hajiyev, the Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and the Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, expressed optimism about the potential for peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, despite certain obstacles hindering progress.

Hajiyev highlighted Azerbaijan's commitment to self-defense and restoration of territorial integrity, citing Article 51 of the UN Charter. He emphasized the rejection of double standards and foreign military aggression, as well as the encouragement of separatism, which Azerbaijan found unacceptable.

According to Hajiyev, Baku, and Yerevan must prioritize reconciliation and peacebuilding efforts, acknowledging that the process may be lengthy. He asserted that peace and security have been significantly enhanced, with unprecedented calm along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in the past six months.

"We drafted the text of the peace treaty and formulated five fundamental principles, progressing well in the peace process," Hajiyev remarked. He underscored Azerbaijan's stance that peace must be achieved directly between the two countries rather than through external mediation.

However, Hajiyev expressed disappointment with the United States' unilateral support for Armenia, particularly through the enactment of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. Despite Azerbaijan's self-sufficiency, he criticized the US for its biased stance, suggesting that unilateral actions undermine impartiality in the negotiation process.

Regarding Armenia's role in the peace process, Hajiyev urged the country to demonstrate genuine political readiness for peace and regional transformation. He highlighted Azerbaijan's willingness to engage in discussions facilitated by Russia and lamented Armenia's rejection of proposed platforms and involvement in unproductive geopolitical maneuvers outside the region.