Armenia rejects Azerbaijan’s call to amend constitution for peace deal

Armenia has firmly rejected Azerbaijan’s demand to amend its constitution as a precondition for signing a peace agreement, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said.

Speaking at a press conference alongside Finnish Foreign Minister and OSCE Chair Elina Valtonen, Mirzoyan stressed that constitutional changes are solely a domestic matter, Caliber.Az reports via Armenian media. 

“Amending or adopting a new constitution is exclusively an internal issue for Armenia and our people. Armenia has never undertaken—and has no intention of undertaking—any obligation to a third party to change its constitution,” he said.

The minister added that discussions on possible constitutional reforms are taking place only within the framework of domestic public dialogue. Despite this, Azerbaijan continues to demand such changes as a prerequisite for a peace deal. “We do not accept this condition,” Mirzoyan emphasised.

While similar firm statements have previously come from Yerevan on various bilateral issues, analysts note that outright rejection in Armenian politics often represents an initial stage, with eventual compromise possible.

On September 20, Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party announced its intention to initiate the adoption of a new constitution following the parliamentary elections scheduled for June 2026. The party aims to secure a constitutional majority to seek a nationwide referendum on the new Constitution.

The programme, adopted at a congress on September 20, is based on the ideology of “Real Armenia” and the framework of peace with Azerbaijan. Civil Contract also pledged to intensify efforts for EU accession, maintain balanced foreign relations, and promote lasting peace and good-neighbourly ties with all neighbouring countries.

By Aghakazim Guliyev