The Armenian Weekly. YEREVAN—Armenian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mnatsakan Safaryan has shed light on the ongoing Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations, specifically the contentious idea of handing control of the road linking Azerbaijan to its exclave Nakhichevan through Armenia’s Syunik region to a private holding company.
Speaking with the press on September 4, Safaryan acknowledged that this proposal is being discussed. He did not specify the nationality of the representatives in this private entity. He stressed that these discussions are still at a preliminary stage, and Armenian border guards and customs officers will be on-site to preserve Armenia’s sovereignty.
Meanwhile, the Armenian government is pushing forward with the ratification of a border deal setting forth “regulations” for joint border demarcation commissions, which was signed on August 30, 2024. The draft law, which was published on Monday, is slated for review on September 5 and, pending government approval, will be sent to the Constitutional Court before being presented to the National Assembly. The draft will also be reviewed in Azerbaijan.
The regulation stipulates that the border demarcation commissions will operate based on the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration as the foundational principle for delineating the state border. Should future agreements on peace and interstate relations introduce different regulations, the commissions will align with the principles set forth in these new agreements.
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Azerbaijani officials have offered mixed reactions. Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev suggested that this new regulation could be used as a basis for withdrawing the EU civilian mission from Armenia. He also noted some progress in bilateral negotiations with Armenia.
On the diplomatic front, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan participated on September 1 in the Globsec forum in Prague, where he discussed Armenia-EU relations. Kostanyan emphasized the importance of diversifying Armenia’s foreign policy to protect its sovereignty, borders and democratic values, while highlighting the potential for deeper cooperation with EU member states. He also praised the role of the EU observation mission in Armenia in contributing to regional stability.
Kostanyan revealed that Armenia has submitted the 10th package of a peace treaty to Azerbaijan, which he said reaffirms the country’s commitment to South Caucasus peace and introduces the “Crossroads of Peace” program. This program entails opening regional communication channels while adhering to principles of sovereignty and equality.
During a press conference on August 31, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also provided updates on the treaty negotiations, noting that 17 articles are under discussion, with 13 already agreed upon. He suggested signing the treaty based on these agreed articles while continuing to negotiate the remaining points, aiming to advance the process pragmatically.
Pashinyan also criticized recent remarks from Russian officials, which he claims have hindered efforts to establish regional communication channels. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had previously accused Yerevan of sabotaging the agreement to unblock communications through the Syunik region of Armenia.
Lavrov, in an interview with Baku’s First Channel on August 19, said, “We advocate for the swift conclusion of a peace agreement and the unblocking of communication channels. Regrettably, it is the Armenian leadership that is impeding the agreement signed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. It is challenging to understand the rationale behind this stance.” He emphasized the importance of adhering to trilateral agreements made by Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia from 2020 to 2022.
In response to the press conference, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry dismissed Pashinyan’s claims that Azerbaijan’s Constitution includes territorial claims against Armenia. It called these allegations “groundless” and reiterated their demand for Armenia to abandon its “territorial claims,” alluding to Armenia’s Constitution, which makes a reference to the unification of Armenia and Artsakh.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has voiced frustration with Armenia’s handling of the peace process, accusing the country of stalling the agreement while acquiring new weapons from Western sources. On August 30, he reiterated his demand for constitutional amendments in Armenia to remove references to Artsakh and for the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group, the primary international body tasked with mediating the Artsakh conflict.
During his press conference, held a few days before the 33rd anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Artsakh (then Nagorno-Karabakh Republic), Pashinyan also said that the return of Armenians to Artsakh is unrealistic and inconsistent with the state interests of the Republic of Armenia. His comments came in response to questions about Armenia’s reluctance to address the issue of repatriating residents of Artsakh.
Addressing the right of return for the Armenian population of Artsakh, Pashinyan expressed skepticism about its feasibility, given the current proposals from some former officials and residents of the region. He reiterated his view that these proposals are unrealistic and emphasized that he cannot, in good faith, offer false assurances.
Despite international calls for the return of Armenians to Artsakh, including from various political leaders from different countries and human rights organizations, Pashinyan maintains that this is contrary to Armenia’s strategic interests. He previously indicated in March 2023 that international mechanisms should be established for the return of Armenians from areas such as Hadrut, Shushi and other regions of Artsakh.
Pashinyan said at the time that he had instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to initiate official negotiations with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees on this matter, in line with the November 9, 2020, trilateral ceasefire agreement. This statement outlines that internally displaced persons and refugees are to return to Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent areas under U.N. supervision, a mechanism that has yet to be activated.
In a press briefing at Yerablur Pantheon on September 2, President of the Republic of Artsakh Samvel Shahramanyan addressed Pashinyan’s remarks regarding the return of Artsakh Armenians. Shahramanyan stated that he has not been informed about specific proposals or packages presented to the Armenian government, nor has there been any discussion or submission of proposals from his side. He asserted that the right to return cannot and does not conflict with Armenia’s state interests.
Shahramanyan refuted Pashinyan’s claim that Shahramanyan signed an agreement with Azerbaijan dissolving the Republic of Artsakh. He said that the decision to relocate Armenians from Artsakh was made to ensure the security of Armenia and maintain the integrity of its security system. He added that the agreement was signed to facilitate the safe transfer of civilians to Armenia.
Regarding the dissolution of Artsakh, Shahramanyan claimed that the document in question was unconstitutional and illegal. The population of Artsakh opposed integration with Azerbaijan and made a unanimous decision to leave the region, he argued. Shahramanyan said that he previously informed the Armenian prime minister in writing about this decision, including supporting documents. He concluded that further discussions on the validity of this document are irrelevant and do not reflect the current situation.
Photo: Barbed wire fence installed along demarcated section of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border in the Tavush region (Photo: Artur Hovhannisyan, Facebook, June 16, 2024)