Pashinyan says Armenia, Azerbaijan confront “common threat” to independence

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has suggested that Armenia and Azerbaijan may now share common interests, including a mutual concern for the preservation of their independence and sovereignty.

Speaking at a panel discussion “At the Crossroads of Leadership” during the 8th Paris Peace Forum, Pashinyan argued that decades of hostility have given way to a growing recognition of the South Caucasus nations’ intertwined destinies, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

“By analyzing the global situation and the situation in our region, perhaps we — Armenia and Azerbaijan — have come to realize that there may be some common interests,” Pashinyan said.

“In particular, we may have understood that the destinies of the countries of the South Caucasus are interconnected, and perhaps now, after decades of hostility, this is becoming more evident to us.”

The Armenian leader noted that history has repeatedly demonstrated the shared trajectories of the region’s nations. “At the beginning of the 20th century, we gained independence together — within three days of each other. In 1918, we achieved independence, and then, a few years later, we lost it simultaneously — Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia alike,” he recalled. “In 1991, we regained independence at the same time, together. And perhaps, after some time, we realized that there may be a common threat to our independence.”

Pashinyan said that this historical awareness has prompted Yerevan to prioritize the strengthening of state institutions and the protection of national sovereignty. “We have decided to focus on the agenda of developing our statehood and protecting our independence and sovereignty,” he stated.

“Perhaps we have started to understand that there could be a common denominator for shared interests — specifically, in strengthening our independence, sovereignty, and statehood — considering that history has shown that in this way, we both stand to gain,” he added.

While emphasizing the potential for a new understanding between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Pashinyan acknowledged that mutual perceptions may still diverge. “In my view, this is a very important factor, although I am not sure that, in the case of Azerbaijan, the assessment from their side will be the same,” he concluded.

By Vafa Guliyeva