Speaker: Armenia may sign peace deal with Baku ahead of constitutional changes

Armenian National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan has acknowledged the possibility that a peace treaty with Azerbaijan could be signed before changes are made to Armenia’s constitution.

Speaking to reporters in parliament, Simonyan emphasised that the ongoing constitutional reform process is not connected to Baku’s demands, Caliber.Az reports via Armenian media.

He noted that discussions on constitutional amendments began well before the coronavirus pandemic and have their own internal context.

Simonyan also dismissed suggestions that reductions in Armenia’s defence budget are linked to Azerbaijan.

He argued that Armenia cannot realistically compete in military expenditure with either Azerbaijan or Türkiye, the latter possessing NATO’s second-largest army.

What matters, he stressed, is the rational and efficient use of available financial resources.

By Tamilla Hasanova