Azerbaijani deputy FM urges Armenia to amend its constitution for peace deal at CoE session in Luxembourg PHOTO

Azerbaijan has reiterated its readiness to continue bilateral dialogue with Armenia on issues related to the normalisation process, as confirmed by Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov at the 134th session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, held in Luxembourg on May 13-14.

Mammadov, who leads the Azerbaijani delegation at the session, emphasised that in March of this year, Azerbaijan and Armenia concluded negotiations on a peace agreement and the establishment of interstate relations, the Foreign Ministry told Caliber.Az.

He also noted that the main condition for signing the agreed text is amending Armenia’s constitution to exclude claims on Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the official abolition of the outdated and dysfunctional OSCE Minsk Group and relevant structures.

Elnur Mammadov stated Baku's readiness to continue bilateral dialogue on these and other issues related to the normalisation process.

Furthermore, the deputy minister stated that the rejection of the Azerbaijani delegation's mandate by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in January 2024 was legally unjustified and contradicted the provision that “all member states must participate in both statutory organs of the Council of Europe on equal terms,” as set out in the Committee of Ministers' decision from 2019.

Mammadov emphasised the urgent need to resolve the situation and unconditionally restore Azerbaijan's participation in the assembly, which should serve as a platform for interparliamentary dialogue and cooperation.

During his visit to Luxembourg, Mammadov held meetings with the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, and the Director General of the organisation for Human Rights and the Rule of Law, Gianluca Esposito.

By Khagan Isayev