Peace with Armenia impossible without constitutional changes: Azerbaijan FM

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said Saturday that a peace agreement with Armenia cannot be achieved unless Yerevan amends its Constitution.

Speaking to Turkish news agency Anadolu on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Bayramov stressed that Armenia must remove territorial claims against Azerbaijan from its Constitution and agree to the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group.

“There are critical factors that must be resolved. The most important one is Armenia’s constitutional claims against Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. As long as this continues, a peace deal is not possible. Changing the Armenian Constitution is a non-negotiable requirement,” Bayramov said.

Bayramov also criticized the OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by the United States, France, and Russia, for its failure to deliver results over three decades. He emphasized that the Karabakh issue has been resolved, as Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan, and Armenia acknowledges this.

He also questioned why the Minsk Group should remain active in light of this resolution, calling for its formal dissolution.

30 years of silence to the occupier

“For 30 years, they said nothing to the occupier. When Azerbaijan restored its territorial integrity, they tried to punish us. But their plans collapsed thanks to our independent foreign policy and the strong support of Türkiye and our friendly states,” Bayramov said, taking aim at Western countries, particularly France, for what he described as double standards.

Bayramov also reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s support for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), noting the close, brotherly ties between the two nations.

“We have close, brotherly ties with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Their President, Ersin Tatar, has visited Azerbaijan. Our parliaments have formed friendship groups. TRNC is an observer in the Organization of Turkic States, and we will continue to support its activities,” he said.

Bayramov emphasized the need for a solution to the Cyprus issue based on equal rights for both the Turkish and Greek communities on the island. He stressed that a fair solution based on justice, historical facts, and international law is the only path to lasting peace. Azerbaijan’s unwavering support for the TRNC, he said, is a reflection of its commitment to these principles.

Azerbaijan’s backing of the TRNC comes amid growing calls within the Turkic world for deeper integration and solidarity, particularly in contested or diplomatically sensitive regions.