UK calls for swift signing of peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia

The United Kingdom has called for Azerbaijan and Armenia to sign a peace agreement as soon as possible, welcoming the successful conclusion of negotiations between the two nations.

“Azerbaijan and Armenia have announced the conclusion of negotiations on a historic peace agreement. We welcome this important step and urge both sides to proceed to sign it as soon as possible,” British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said while addressing Parliament, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

Lammy's remark came after Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on March 13, reaffirming Baku’s commitment to continuing dialogue with Armenia following the successful completion of negotiations on the Peace and Interstate Relations Agreement. The Azerbaijani government expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved, highlighting that the discussions on the draft agreement had been successfully finalized.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry also underscored the need for constitutional changes in Armenia to eliminate any territorial claims against Azerbaijan’s sovereignty before the agreement can be finalized. In the statement, Azerbaijan emphasized that amending Armenia's constitution to remove these claims was a crucial condition for the agreement's signing. Furthermore, Azerbaijan called for the formal dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group, describing the structure as outdated and ineffective.

Azerbaijan reaffirmed its willingness to continue bilateral discussions with Armenia, seeking to establish a comprehensive normalization process between the two countries.

In a reciprocal statement, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Yerevan had accepted Azerbaijan's proposals on the two remaining disputed articles, signalling that the peace treaty was now ready for formal signing. Armenia also communicated with Baku through diplomatic channels to confirm their acceptance of the agreement’s terms, expressing readiness to initiate consultations on the signing's date and location.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov also confirmed that both nations had reached a consensus on the terms of the draft treaty. He reiterated Azerbaijan’s commitment to advancing dialogue aimed at ensuring peace and stability in the South Caucasus.

By Tamilla Hasanova