On January 4, Hikmat Hajiyev, the Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and the Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, was interviewed by the German newspaper "Berliner Zeitung."

Hajiyev said about the peace process with Armenia: "Recently both countries astonished the world with positive agenda. I refer to the landmark joint statement of the Azerbaijani President's Office and the Armenian Prime Minister's Office on December 7, as a result of which 34 soldiers were released as part of the mutual exchange deal. Furthermore, Azerbaijan has supported the Armenian candidature for the Eastern European Group COP Bureau, while Armenia has supported Azerbaijan's candidacy to host COP29. This shows that Azerbaijan and Armenia are capable of conducting direct bilateral talks without mediators." He added, "Now we observe the calmest days between two countries in the last 30 years. There were even no incidents of skirmishes as both armies returned to their barracks. The recent informal meeting between the President of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia in St. Petersburg was also held in a positive vein. But it is a bit difficult to talk about specific timelines, as further negotiations are still needed between Armenia and Azerbaijan to finalize the process."

Regarding Aliyev's recent claims from Armenia on no checks and interferences via the Zangezur corridor, Hajiyev noted: "The Nakhchivan region of Azerbaijan has been under blockade for 30 years. In the Trilateral Declaration of November 10, 2020, Armenia undertook the obligation to guarantee the security of transport links between the western regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic in order to organize unimpeded movement of citizens, vehicles, and goods in both directions. President Ilham Aliyev referred to this commitment." He added, "That is why the document contains language about "unimpeded" movement of passengers and cargo. This is a signed commitment by Armenia. However, it should be clarified that we expect customs and border controls to be waived only when the goods are transported from mainland Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. But when the goods are transported from Azerbaijan to the third country, of course, applicable customs and border control will be ensured by Armenia." The presidential assistant also spoke about the Kaliningrad model: "Azerbaijan was waiting for the provision of an easier transition, and we are ready to consider models like Kaliningrad."

Commenting on the possible setbacks of this route for Armenia, Hajiyev assured: "We do not see the transportation through Armenian territory as a threat to both Armenian sovereignty and Armenian-Iranian connectivity. This is because a transportation link from Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan - through the far south of Armenia - will not affect the trade route between Armenia and Iran. The two routes intersect without blocking each other. It is always possible to find acceptable modalities if there is the political will to do so. The term "corridor" should not frighten Armenia, as it is widely used in the context of transport routes. This transportation link will not deprive Armenia from its border with Iran. This route will not cut Armenia into two pieces, either. Regretfully, here we see the widespread slander campaign against my country, especially in some Western media."

"Each format has its own advantages, and comparing their effectiveness would not be correct. At various stages, different formats have allowed us to move forward, and we are grateful to all the mediators who have been involved. The venue is not important for us. Most important is the outcome. We are for result-oriented negotiations. In principle, we are not against honest facilitation, but our preference is direct talks. Today, work on the text of the peace treaty is being carried out directly between Baku and Yerevan," he concluded.