Azerbaijan proposes document on interim peace principles with Armenia
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan are seen during a visit to the Catherine Palace at the Tsarskoye Selo State Museum and Reserve in Saint Petersburg, Russia December 26, 2023. (Reuters)
Azerbaijan is proposing an interim document on the basic principles of a future peace treaty with Armenia as they negotiate a broader deal, a senior Azerbaijani official said on Sunday.
Progress toward peace
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announced that the text of the peace treaty is 80% to 90% ready. However, the final agreement remains stalled due to Armenia’s refusal to amend its constitution, which indirectly references Karabakh’s independence. This constitutional change is a key demand from Azerbaijan.
Temporary measures and future prospects
Hikmet Hajiyev, foreign policy adviser to the Azerbaijani president, stated that a document outlining the basic principles of peace could serve as a temporary measure. This document would form the foundation of bilateral relations and promote neighborly ties between the two countries.
Hajiyev suggested that this interim agreement could be signed before Azerbaijan hosts the COP29 climate summit in November.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian indicated in June that a peace treaty with Azerbaijan was nearing completion. However, he firmly rejected Azerbaijan’s demands for constitutional amendments. Pashinian’s policies, including the return of contested border villages to Azerbaijan, have sparked protests and calls for his resignation.
On July 5, Constitution Day in Armenia, Pashinian emphasized the need for a new constitution that reflects the people’s vision of their state and their relationships within it.
