(MENAFN) The European Union expressed a “warm” welcome Friday following the initial signing of a peace agreement and the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House.

European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen issued a joint statement highlighting the significance of the occasion. “The signing of the Political Declaration by (Armenian) Prime Minister (Nikol) Pashinyan and (Azerbaijani) President (Ilham) Aliyev, in the presence of President (Donald) Trump in the White House, is a major development for both Armenia and Azerbaijan, paving the way to lasting, sustainable peace for both countries and across the entire region, also culminating years of EU efforts,” the statement read.

The statement emphasized the critical need for the timely execution of agreed-upon measures to ensure continuous and stable progress toward full normalization of relations between Yerevan and Baku.

Recognizing the influential role of Costa and von der Leyen in encouraging Aliyev and Pashinyan’s recent diplomatic advances, the EU reaffirmed its strong backing of the normalization process. The bloc also conveyed its commitment “to invest in regional connectivity and full opening, to benefit first and foremost populations divided by conflict legacies, and to bring the region closer to sustainable peace, stability and prosperity.”

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