Azerbaijani Envoy Highlights South Caucasus Peace in Norway’s Utrop

The Norwegian outlet Utrop has featured an article by Zaur Ahmadov, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Sweden, focusing on the ongoing peace process in the South Caucasus.

In the piece, Ambassador Ahmadov recalls the book “I will do it” by Norwegian author Terje Holmedal, published about two decades ago, The Caspian Post informs via local media.

The book tells the story of Lala, a girl from Jabrayil, who was forced to flee her home during the First Karabakh War and, as a result, lost the chance to pursue an education.

According to the ambassador, Lala-along with many other Azerbaijani internally displaced persons (IDPs)-has finally been given the opportunity to return to her native village, though it lay in ruins for decades. As families come back, he notes, these villages and the wider region, once seen as unstable, are being revived and transformed into places of hope and peace.

Ahmadov also draws attention to the historic Joint Declaration signed on August 8 in Washington by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, with US President Donald Trump present as a witness. He stresses that the declaration marks the start of a new chapter in bilateral relations.

“The agreements primarily focus on opening up transport links, including the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project. This route will connect Azerbaijan’s mainland to Nakhchivan through Armenia. The article underlines that this will be a crucial link in the Middle Corridor initiative, which connects Europe and Asia,” the article says.

The ambassador further underlines that peace and stability in the South Caucasus will bring benefits not only to regional countries but also to Europe, including Norway. Given their strong background in peacebuilding and integration, Scandinavian nations could play an important role in fostering trust and advancing cooperation.

He concludes by noting that Lala’s experience is a poignant reminder of the human side of the peace process: every political agreement affects ordinary people who want nothing more than to return home and rebuild their lives. "For the South Caucasus, this is a new beginning, while for Norway, this is an invitation to help write the next chapter," Ahmadov states.