Azerbaijan stresses urgency of peace deal following OSCE Minsk Group closure

Azerbaijan is eager to finalise a peace agreement with Armenia once the remaining conditions are met, Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev said on August 27.

According to domestic media, Rafiyev noted that the process depends on two key prerequisites: the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group and amendments to the Armenian constitution. 

“One of them has already been implemented,” he said, referring to the progress on the Minsk Group. “The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia have submitted a joint appeal to the current OSCE chairman regarding the liquidation of the Minsk Group. A final decision is expected on September 1.”

Rafiyev emphasised that the second condition—constitutional reforms in Armenia—has not yet been fulfilled.

“Once amendments to the Armenian constitution are completed, the necessary framework for signing a peace agreement will be in place. Currently, there is no official information regarding these constitutional changes, and no initiatives have been presented by Armenia. But we are waiting,” he said.

The deputy minister reiterated Azerbaijan’s commitment to concluding the peace deal as quickly as possible. “Our desire is to sign a peace agreement as soon as these changes are made. This could happen immediately once the conditions are met.”

By Tamilla Hasanova