Azerbaijani official: Territorial claims in Armenian constitution - main obstacle to peace

Azerbaijan's special representative on special assignments Elchin Amirbayov has emphasised that the territorial claims against Azerbaijan enshrined in Armenia's current constitution remain the main barrier to advancing the peace process between the two nations.

Speaking to Radio Liberty, Amirbayov clarified that the issue is not about changing the constitution under Azerbaijani pressure but about asking a crucial question: Do Armenian citizens prefer peace or the chance of further confrontation with Azerbaijan? Caliber.Az reports citing the local media.

He believes that if the Armenian government presents the question this way, most Armenian voters will choose peace in a referendum.

Amirbayov also expressed the need for a peace agreement to serve as a definitive treaty that eliminates any future revanchist tendencies or territorial claims against Azerbaijan, ensuring lasting peace.

He stated that the negotiations are being eased by both sides' agreement to tackle the most contentious issue. This involves organising transport routes linking Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave, known as the Zangezur Corridor issue.

"On mutual agreement, we decided to take this paragraph out of the peace agreement and to refer it to a later stage...So, we decided to take it out of the text, but we can still reflect in the text [on] the fact that this is one of the other issues on which the countries may come back at some point to discuss and to come to a common agreement," he added.