Turkish professor: Armenian diaspora, opposition harm process of peace with Azerbaijan

Armenian diaspora and the opposition have a negative impact on the process of peace with Azerbaijan, said Professor Mitat Çelikpala, Vice-Rector of Kadir Has University of Türkiye.

He made the remarks at a panel session on “Changing Constitutions for Peace: International Experience” within the framework of the conference “Main Obstacles to a Peace Agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia,” Caliber.Az reports via local media.

He noted that the Armenian constitution contains territorial claims against Türkiye, along with Azerbaijan:

"Armenia has a chance to achieve permanent and final peace, and this can be ensured in the South Caucasus. Along with Azerbaijan, the Armenian constitution also contains territorial claims against Türkiye. These give the right to demand changes to the Constitution."

He recalled that Türkiye recognized Armenia's independence, but closed its border with Armenia due to the Karabakh issue.

The vice-rector emphasized that in 2010, the parliaments of Armenia and Türkiye adopted a document that the borders between the two countries should be determined based on international law.

"We are talking about the current borders here. However, the Armenian diaspora has taken the issue to a different side. Critical interventions by the Armenian diaspora and the opposition are observed, which hinder the development of the process. However, we hope that along with Armenia-Azerbaijan, Armenia-Turkey relations will also be fully normalized," he said.

Speaking at the panel session, former British Ambassador to Azerbaijan James Sharp spoke about Ireland's peace experience:

"The Belfast Agreement, signed on April 10, 1998, was a landmark achievement and ended 30 years of conflict in Northern Ireland. The agreement was approved in two referendums held on May 22, 1998. As a result, Northern Ireland restored self-government,” Sharp said.

Meanwhile, Zhidas Daskalovski, director of the School of Public Policy (Mother Teresa), supported by the Council of Europe, said that the agreement between North Macedonia and Greece was also achieved through constitutional amendments.

"Azerbaijan and Armenia can also conclude an agreement, and the other party can undertake constitutional amendments within the framework of this agreement, and a certain time should be allocated for this,” he added.

Notably, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev recently named four reasons hindering the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace deal: "Unfortunately, the deep-rooted hatred towards our people in Armenian society, the myths of a 'greater Armenia', the territorial claims against Azerbaijan still embedded in the Armenian constitution, and the rapid armament of this country hinder the lasting peace between the two countries."

The liberation of the Azerbaijani territories from Armenian occupation in 2020 and 2023 and the full restoration of sovereignty have created opportunities for peace between the two countries. However, Armenia continues to maintain territorial claims against Azerbaijan in the Constitution, as well as in other legislative acts. 

The Declaration of Independence adopted by Armenia on August 23, 1990, refers to the act of the Supreme Council of the Armenian SSR of December 1, 1989, which considered Karabakh to be an integral part of Armenia. This claim was later reflected in the preamble of the Constitution adopted on July 5, 1995, and was retained during the amendments to the Constitution on November 27, 2005 and December 6, 2015.

By Khagan Isayev