Armenian opposition abandons debate on border delimitation regulations with Azerbaijan

Discussions regarding the regulations of the Armenian and Azerbaijani state commissions on delimitation are taking place in the Armenian parliament without any opposition participation.

Both opposition factions — “Armenia” and “I Have Honour” — departed the session hall before the discussions began, Caliber.Az reports via Armenian media.

Sarkis Khandanyan, secretary of the ruling party's Civil Contract faction, criticized the opposition's actions as an evasion of responsibility. He stated, “Every time the opposition chooses to avoid making responsible decisions instead of voting, even if it’s against them.”

On September 26, the Constitutional Court of Armenia ruled that the draft regulations for the delimitation commission align with the country’s Constitution, referencing maps used during the Soviet Union's dissolution.

On October 21, the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations approved the regulations and forwarded them for parliamentary consideration.

Additionally, on August 30, Armenia and Azerbaijan signed an agreement governing the joint operations of their border delimitation commissions, as confirmed by the Armenian Foreign Ministry. The ministry indicated that both countries have begun internal procedures to ratify the agreement.

Tensions between Baku and Yerevan have persisted since 1991, following the Armenian military's occupation of Karabakh, an area internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, along with seven surrounding regions. Most of this territory was reclaimed by Azerbaijan during a 44-day conflict in the autumn of 2020, culminating in a Russian-brokered peace deal that set the stage for normalization and border demarcation talks.

In September of last year, Azerbaijan asserted full control over Karabakh following an anti-terrorist operation that led to the surrender of separatist forces in the region.

By Tamilla Hasanova