How Armenian premier diverts attention from peace process Sheer adventurism

During his speech at the "Yerevan Dialogue" international conference on September 10, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan delivered yet another "sensational" statement. He denied that Armenia’s Constitution contains any territorial claims against Azerbaijan, insisting that "there is nothing in the Armenian Constitution that others try to ascribe to it." The Armenian leader didn’t stop there. He went further, claiming that, on the contrary, it is Azerbaijan's Constitution that contains territorial claims against Armenia.

"In 1919, maps were submitted to the Paris Conference and the same year to the League of Nations for the registration of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, which include the entire Syunik, Vayots Dzor Provinces of Armenia, as well as some parts of the Ararat, Armavir, Gegharkunik, Tavush, Lori, and Shirak Provinces [of Armenia]. This makes it obvious that the constitution of Azerbaijan contains territorial claims against Armenia," Pashinyan claimed.

The Armenian prime minister’s verbal bravado, which is entirely detached from reality, effectively puts an end to Yerevan’s efforts to revise its Constitution, which was supposed to include amendments renouncing Armenia’s territorial claims against Azerbaijan. On the other hand, Yerevan's refusal to comply with one of Baku's key conditions for a peace agreement highlights Armenia’s clear disinterest in fostering stability and security in the region.

Yet Pashinyan’s rhetoric didn’t stop there. He went on to accuse Azerbaijan of conducting "ethnic cleansing," claiming that Armenians were forcibly expelled from Karabakh. This narrative is hardly new; the Armenian authorities frequently revive it in hopes of gaining international sympathy and attention. Meanwhile, Baku holds undeniable evidence, including reports from a UN mission, confirming the peaceful departure of the Armenian population from Karabakh. Moreover, even prior to September 2023, Baku had consistently offered Azerbaijani citizenship to Armenians living in Karabakh.

It’s also worth noting a report by the Armenian newspaper Hraparak (from August 2022), which confirmed that Azerbaijan did not demand the evacuation of Armenians from the Lachin and Zabukh settlements as a precondition. The article highlighted that Baku was open to allowing the roughly 350 Armenians living there to stay in Karabakh, provided they accepted Azerbaijani citizenship and adhered to Azerbaijani law.

"As an example, Armenians live in Türkiye, abiding by the country’s laws and authorities. In this case, the Armenian government would bear no responsibility for the safety or well-being of Armenians remaining in Lachin and Zabukh," the newspaper reported.

Here’s another interesting development. Nikol Pashinyan has indicated his readiness to sign a partially agreed-upon peace treaty with Azerbaijan. He confirmed that 13 out of 16 points of the treaty have been fully agreed upon and expressed willingness to sign the document while deferring discussion on the remaining issues.

The statements from the Armenian side suggest that Yerevan is prepared to sign the peace agreement, but without meeting Azerbaijan’s precondition regarding changes to the Armenian Constitution. Meanwhile, Baku has expressed concerns about finalizing certain aspects of the peace treaty with Armenia. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry has clarified: “Although approximately 80% of the draft has been agreed upon, some provisions have yet to be settled.”

Azerbaijan has made it clear that it will not tolerate Yerevan's maneuvers regarding the peace agreement, indicating that Armenia will eventually need to comply with Baku’s demands. The space for maneuvering for Yerevan is steadily shrinking...