Armenia, Azerbaijan agree to undertake confidence-building measures - joint statement

YEREVAN. Dec 7 (Interfax) - Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to take tangible steps towards building confidence between the two countries, the Armenian Prime Minister's Office and the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration said in a joint statement.

"Armenia and Azerbaijan agree that there is a historic opportunity to achieve long-awaited peace in the region. Both countries reiterate their intention to settle relations and conclude a peace treaty based on respect for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity," the joint statement issued by the Armenian government's press service said.

"The talks between the Armenian Prime Minister's Office and the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration resulted in an agreement to take tangible steps towards building confidence between the two countries," it said.

"Guided by humanitarian values and as a sign of goodwill, Azerbaijan is releasing 32 Armenian servicemen. For its part, Armenia, guided by humanitarian values and as a sign of goodwill, is releasing two Azerbaijani servicemen," the statement said.

At the same time, as a goodwill gesture, Armenia has expressed its support for Azerbaijan's bid to host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) and is withdrawing its candidacy.

"Armenia and Azerbaijan said they hope that the other countries of the Eastern European Group will also support the application submitted by Azerbaijan to host [COP29]. As a goodwill gesture, Azerbaijan expresses its support for Armenia's candidacy for Eastern European Group COP Bureau membership," it said.

Armenia and Azerbaijan "will continue talks on implementing additional confidence-building measures, which will be put into effect in the near future, and call on the international community to support their efforts, which will contribute to building mutual trust between the two countries and will have a positive impact on the entire South Caucasus region," the statement said.