“Armenia and Azerbaijan confirmed their commitment to the UN Charter and in 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration, through which both sides recognize each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.” This record is made in the statement published on the results of the Pashinyan-Aliev-Macron-Michel quadrilateral meeting held in Prague.
Maybe I’m wrong, but it seems to me that the reference to the Alma-Ata Declaration was made at the suggestion of the Armenian side. I think so, because that reference corresponds to the main propaganda thesis of the government, according to which the “formers” (in this case, Ter-Petrossian) have long since given up and got away with everything.
However, let’s not get discouraged and open the document that the leaders of 11 countries signed on December 21, 1991, in Alma-Ata (naturally, there was no mention of the Baltic republics, and Georgia joined that Declaration in 1993). Accordingly, independent states strive to “build democratic legal states, relations between which will develop on the basis of the principles of state sovereignty and sovereign equality, the inalienable right to self-determination (pay attention to that point – A.A.), equality of rights and the principles of non-interference in internal affairs, strength and power to refuse to use the threat… on mutual recognition and respect.” And there is a separate point, “recognizing and respecting each other’s territorial integrity and the inseparability of existing borders”.
Admittedly, there is a big difference when in 1991 territorial integrity is talked about along with the inalienable right of self-determination and non-use of force, and in 2022 only territorial integrity is mentioned, when we have 120,000 compatriots who are in mortal danger. Not to mention that the thesis of recognizing territorial integrity is put forward when the Azerbaijani military is located in the territory of Armenia, and the neighboring country has ambitions for the so-called “enclaves.”
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But it is known that in diplomacy, you give something in exchange for something. Let’s admit that the “compensation” for us is as follows (I quote from the same four-way statement): “Armenia has agreed to facilitate the deployment of the EU civilian mission along the border with Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has agreed to cooperate with the mentioned mission, as far as it will be related. Mission work will start in October for a maximum of two months.”
Is it a guarantee that the Azerbaijani side will not carry out provocations in those two months? I am not sure, and the fact that the attitude of the parties towards this civil mission is different speaks about it indirectly: Armenia contributes, Azerbaijan cooperates with reservations. But if the price of another concession is relatively calm in our borders, it will probably not be brilliant, but at least it will be a somewhat positive result.
Aram Abrahamyan
