Armenian PM announces peace deal with Azerbaijan ready for signing

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan confirmed on March 13 that negotiations on the draft Agreement on Peace and the Establishment of Interstate Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have concluded, with both sides agreeing on the text which marks a significant milestone in the peace process.

In a conversation with journalists near the headquarters of his political party, Pashinyan explained that while the text of the agreement has not yet been published in full, its contents have been largely made public in various forms, Caliber.Az reports per Armenian media.

 "We do not have any secrets from our public regarding this text. In fact, each article has been shared separately in one way or another," he stated, emphasizing the transparency of the process.

When asked about the timeline for signing the agreement, Pashinyan noted that the text is ready for signing, and discussions on the dates and location of the signing are set to begin.

"The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has expressed readiness to start discussions in a bilateral format. They have their proposals, and we have ours. I believe these discussions will allow us to find common ground," Pashinyan added.

In recent statements, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry outlined specific conditions for the agreement's signing, including changes to Armenia's constitution and the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group. These conditions are expected to be a key topic in the upcoming discussions.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has expressed its willingness to continue engaging in dialogue with Armenia, following the successful conclusion of negotiations on the draft Agreement on Peace and the Establishment of Interstate Relations.

"We note with satisfaction that the negotiations on the text of the draft Agreement on Peace and the Establishment of Interstate Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have been concluded," the ministry said in its statement.

While expressing satisfaction with the progress made, Azerbaijan reiterated its longstanding and principled stance on the issue. "We also reiterate the long-lasting and principled position of Azerbaijan that the amendment to Armenia’s constitution to eliminate the claims against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is a prerequisite to allow the signing of the negotiated text," the statement added.

By Vafa Guliyeva