Armenia ready to discuss location and timing of signing peace deal with Azerbaijan, FM says

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has said that Armenia is open to the possibility of signing a peace treaty with Azerbaijan either at the border or in a third country.

Mirzoyan made the remarks in an interview with Turkish TV channel NTV, per Caliber.Az.

“We believe that consultations can now begin immediately to determine the location, time, and exact date of signing the agreement. It could be the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, or any third country acceptable to both Yerevan and Baku. All of this can be subject to discussion,” he said.

In addition, according to Mirzoyan, Armenia is ready to ease control procedures for connecting mainland Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan via Armenian territory.

“On the section connecting mainland Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic via the shortest route, we have proposed using modern mechanisms. For example, we suggested the use of electronic scanning systems to minimize physical inspections. We also proposed implementing electronic declaration to speed up cargo transit. In addition, we suggested using insurance and reinsurance mechanisms to ensure the security of the passage,” the Armenian foreign minister emphasized.

On March 13, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the completion of negotiations on the text of the draft Agreement on Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between Baku and Yerevan. The last two points agreed upon were related to the non-deployment of third-party forces along the common border and a mutual waiver of claims in international courts. 

On the Armenian side, the Armenian Foreign Ministry confirmed that Armenia had accepted Azerbaijan’s proposals on the two remaining disputed issues. This development signals that the peace agreement is now ready for formal signing.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov also confirmed that both countries had agreed on the terms of the draft treaty and reiterated Azerbaijan’s commitment to advancing peace and stability efforts in the South Caucasus.

By Khagan Isayev