If These Three Principles Are Recorded in the Text, the Rest is a Matter of Legal Technique: Khandanian

Despite verbal agreements, Yerevan and Baku have yet to reach an agreement on the recording of three key principles in the peace treaty. This was announced by the Chairman of the National Assembly’s Foreign Relations Committee, Sargis Khandanian, as reported by "Azatutyun."

According to him, if such an agreement had been reached, Armenia's assessments would have been optimistic. "If these three principles, in the form that we envision and for which there has been a verbal agreement, are recorded in the text, the rest is, so to speak, a matter of legal technique—finalizing legal formulations and several other provisions, some of which have already been agreed upon," said Khandanian.

These principles include mutual recognition of territorial integrity based on the Almaty Declaration, which should serve as the basis for the demarcation process, and the opening of communications in respect of the principles of sovereignty, jurisdiction, equality, and reciprocity.

Prior to the foreign ministers' negotiations, the President of Azerbaijan made various demands, including an amendment to the Constitution of Armenia, unobstructed transit through Syunik to Nakhichevan, the return of eight villages, and refused to accept any map as a basis for demarcation, without clearly acknowledging Armenia's territorial integrity.

Nevertheless, Khandanian states that some progress has been made during the two-day negotiations, without providing specifics. "Progress has been made on certain issues, but if the progress were such that it could be discussed regarding a possible signing or deadlines, there would be commentary on that, but at this point, I assume and believe that additional work is needed and that new meetings are necessary," noted the Chairman of the NA Committee.

After a long hiatus, last week the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan met face-to-face in Germany, after which neither side made statements regarding progress, and official Yerevan reported that they agreed to continue discussions on outstanding issues. Currently, there is no information about a new meeting between the leaders or foreign ministers of the two countries.