Historic step: Azerbaijan, Armenia affirm mutual respect for sovereignty, inviolability of borders Details of peace deal / PHOTO

In a landmark step toward lasting peace, Azerbaijan and Armenia have pledged to fully respect each other’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, inviolability of borders, and political independence, following the initialling of a comprehensive peace agreement in Washington on August 8, according to the text of the agreement on establishing peace issued by the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. 

"Having confirmed that the boundaries between the Soviet Socialist Republics of the former USSR became the international borders of respective independent states and have been recognized as such by the international community, the Parties recognize and shall respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity, inviolability of international borders and political independence of each other," the Article I of the agreement reads, Caliber.Az reports.

The draft “Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia," signed in the presence of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and U.S. President Donald Trump, was initialled by the foreign ministers of both countries, Jeyhun Bayramov and Ararat Mirzoyan. It marks a significant milestone in the efforts to normalise relations between the two neighbours after decades of conflict.

"In full compliance with Article I, the Parties confirm that they do not have any territorial claims to each other and shall not raise any such claims in the future. The Parties shall not undertake any act, including planning, preparing, encouraging and supporting such acts, which aim to dismember or impair, totally or in part, the territorial integrity or political unity of the other Party," the text's Article II reads.

Moreover, the agreement explicitly states that Azerbaijan and Armenia will abstain from the use or threat of force, or any other acts contrary to the United Nations Charter, in their bilateral relations. The countries also pledged not to allow their territories to be used by third parties to conduct hostile activities against each other and to avoid interference in each other’s domestic affairs.

Following the exchange of ratification documents, Azerbaijan and Armenia will establish full diplomatic relations within a set timeframe, in accordance with the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations from 1961 and 1963.

The agreement also stipulates that the signatory parties will not deploy forces of any third party along the border.

"The Parties, pending the delimitation and subsequent demarcation of their mutual border,shall implement mutually agreed security and confidence-building measures, including in the military field, with a view to ensuring security and stability in the border regions," the paper adds.

The parties also declare that they condemn all manifestations of intolerance, racial hatred and discrimination, separatism, violent extremism, and terrorism. They commit to combating these phenomena within their respective jurisdictions and to fulfilling their international obligations in this area.

The document provides for measures to clarify the fate of persons missing as a result of the armed conflict involving both parties. These measures include the exchange of information about missing persons through direct communication or via international organisations.

To foster cooperation in various areas including the economy, transit and transportation, environmental protection, humanitarian, and cultural fields, the parties may enter into separate agreements on these issues.

In their bilateral relations, Azerbaijan and Armenia will be guided by international law and this agreement. Neither party may invoke its domestic legislation as a reason for non-compliance with this agreement.

The parties guarantee full implementation of the agreement and will establish a bilateral commission to oversee its execution. Any disputes arising from the application of the agreement will be sought to be resolved through direct consultations. 

"Should such consultations not yield result acceptable for both Parties within 6 months, the Parties shall seek other means of peaceful dispute settlement," the document notes.

Within one month from the date the agreement enters into force, the parties commit to withdrawing or otherwise settling all interstate claims and disputes that arose prior to signing the document and agree not to initiate new ones. Additionally, they will not undertake, encourage, or participate in any hostile actions against each other in diplomatic, informational, or other spheres.

By Khagan Isayev