We Expect Guarantees from Azerbaijan and Are Ready to Provide Guarantees: Pashinyan

We are asking for additional guarantees from Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijan is asking for additional guarantees from us, ensuring that we do not have territorial claims against each other. This was stated by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a meeting with members of the ruling Civil Contract party.

“We expect guarantees from Azerbaijan that they do not want to leave hidden clauses for future territorial demands against the Republic of Armenia, but we are also ready to provide such guarantees. This is a mutually connected action. It cannot be one-sided,” said the Prime Minister.

Pashinyan noted that at this time, there are somewhat active direct communications between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “There are primarily working channels for cooperation, specifically between my staff and the presidential administration of Azerbaijan,” the Prime Minister said.

He highlighted that a joint statement was adopted on December 7 through these channels, resulting in the return of 32 captives from Azerbaijan to Armenia. The Prime Minister added that the main working topic is the text of the peace agreement.

“Diplomatic texts always have various nuances, subtexts, and hidden meanings. And in the proposals made by Azerbaijan, we see potential territorial demands, if not today, then as future threats,” Pashinyan stated.

According to the Prime Minister, the situation should be viewed as a working process that needs to be managed until answers are received to the questions. In Pashinyan's opinion, peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan is only possible according to the principles of the Almaty Declaration. However, the Prime Minister noted that statements from official Baku may even create the impression that Azerbaijan intends to deliberately stall the peace process. Even in that case, Pashinyan emphasized, Armenia's strategy should not change.

“Our strategy has been and remains the strengthening of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia, based on the Almaty Declaration,” he said.

The Prime Minister reminded that both Azerbaijan and Armenia have internationally recognized borders, and when Armenia stands in defense of the security of these territories, it stands on a legitimate foundation, which should be an additional factor for security.