German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in a phone call with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on March 17, welcomed the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process.

The Chancellor’s office said in a readout that Merz and Aliyev discussed the “war in the Middle East and its impact on the South Caucasus.”

“The Chancellor welcomed the ongoing peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia and emphasized its importance for regional stability. Both sides highlighted the opportunities to expand bilateral relations, as well as Azerbaijan’s relations with the EU,” the readout said.