Azerbaijani FM expresses concern over Armenia's military buildup amidst ongoing peace talks

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has said that the large-scale rearmament of Armenia amid ongoing peace negotiations is causing serious concern to Baku.

He made the remarks during the Joint Press Conference with his Georgian counterpart Maka Bochorishvili following the expanded meeting at the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, Caliber.Az reports.

Bayramov emphasized that Azerbaijan and Georgia respect the territorial integrity of other countries, which cannot be said about Armenia.

"Despite Armenia's years of occupation of Azerbaijani lands, Azerbaijan has made a peace proposal. And over the past years, certain progress has been made in peace negotiations," the Azerbaijani top diplomat added.

It is important to note that Azerbaijan has actively pursued peace initiatives with Armenia, aiming to resolve longstanding conflicts and establish stable bilateral relations.

In July 2024, Azerbaijan proposed signing an interim document outlining basic principles for a future peace treaty with Armenia. This proposal aimed to establish foundational bilateral relations while negotiations on a comprehensive peace agreement continued. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev emphasized the necessity for Armenia to amend its constitution to remove references to Karabakh's independence as a precondition for finalizing the peace treaty.

In April 2024, Armenia and Azerbaijan initiated border demarcation based on Soviet-era maps, marking a significant step toward a potential peace agreement. This process involved the return of four villages to Azerbaijan and the establishment of boundary markers.

By Khagan Isayev