Developments over the past year have confirmed the historic significance of the Washington meeting held on August 8, 2025. Talks between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the White House, with US President Donald Trump in attendance, marked a major turning point in South Caucasus history, Professor Ekrem Gürel, Rector of Türkiye’s Iğdır University, told AZERTAC.

The university head noted that Iğdır, which borders Azerbaijan and Armenia, closely monitors developments in the South Caucasus more than anywhere else in Türkiye. “For us, this is not simply part of the regional agenda, but an issue directly intertwined with the daily realities of the people of Eastern Anatolia,” the rector said.

Gürel described the focus on dialogue and normalization as a “window of opportunity for peace, security and development across the region.”

“People living in border areas have historically felt the consequences of peace or renewed escalation most acutely, so the sustainability of the normalization process is far more significant to us than merely an academic interest,” the rector said, noting that steps taken over the past year to normalize relations, including high-level contacts, meetings between technical delegations and public statements, inspire hope for the sustainability of the peace process.

“Of course, completing technical and legal aspects, such as signing a peace agreement and demarcating the border, takes time. In my view, the decisive factor is not the moment of signing itself, but the parties’ willingness to negotiate. The fact that channels of dialogue remained open throughout the past year is a positive signal in relations,” Gürel continued.

Commenting on Ankara’s response, the university head said Türkiye’s constructive position had become an important factor contributing to the preservation of regional peace.

“I believe that normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia will open up new opportunities for many important projects and initiatives, increasing the efficiency of the Middle Corridor and encouraging ideas in the energy, transport and trade sectors. All of this will intensify dialogue between societies. Expanding contacts in the region will have a tangible impact not only on states, but also on residents of border areas, students studying at universities, and entrepreneurs engaged in trade,” the rector added.

According to him, Iğdır University is ready to contribute, within its capabilities and using its accumulated academic experience, to advancing the normalization process and organizing events aimed at objectively informing the public about the realities of the region.

The Turkish university rector also considers academic cooperation between regional universities beneficial. “Contacts between universities can also contribute to progress in normalization,” Gürel said.

“On the first anniversary of the Washington summit, we sincerely hope that the process will become irreversible, laying the foundation for lasting peace, prosperity, security and cooperation for all residents of the region. Iğdır University will continue to closely monitor every step in this direction and support it,” the rector noted.

By Jeyhun Aghazada

Source: caliber.az