11 Principles for Starting the Demarcation and Delimitation Process: Sosi Tatikyan Highlights Two

International relations and security expert Sosi Tatikyan considers the exclusion of the use of force and the withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenian sovereign territory as crucial preconditions for initiating the delimitation and demarcation process.

Tatikyan expressed this view during a roundtable discussion organized by the Armenian Center for Democracy and Security on the topic, "What Follows from Sochi, and What Precedes Brussels: Is a New Armenian-Azerbaijani War Possible?" He has developed 11 principles for starting the demarcation and delimitation process.

He highlighted two of these principles that should serve as the foundation for initiating the process: "First, the use of force must be excluded, and Azerbaijani forces should withdraw from the sovereign territory of Armenia. This should be one of the two preconditions. Second, the issue of resolving the Artsakh conflict should be excluded from this framework; it should continue in parallel within the framework of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group," he stated.

During the Sochi meeting, the leaders of Armenia, Russia, and Azerbaijan agreed to create a commission for the delimitation and subsequent demarcation of the state border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, based on the parties' applications with the advisory participation of the Russian Federation. The expert considered the participation of the Russian Federation in this process as a wise and reasonable decision.

He also emphasized the role of the OSCE in the delimitation and demarcation process. If unresolved issues remain in the first phase, he suggests creating a sub-group attached to the Minsk Group or some commission outside the Minsk Group to continue the process relating to delimitation and demarcation, in accordance with the relevant norms of the OSCE. If there are still contentious issues in the second phase, it should be taken to an international court.