Differences in Positions with Baku Still Exist, but Yerevan is Hopeful: Deputy Minister

Differences between the positions of Armenia and Azerbaijan regarding the text of the peace agreement still exist; however, Yerevan is hopeful that a unified text can be achieved. This statement was made today by Vahan Kostanyan, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, after making a condolence entry in the mourning book opened at the Iranian embassy.

“With each meeting, we try to bring the positions of both sides closer together,” he said.

Kostanyan emphasized that Armenia is willing to regulate relations and sign and implement the peace agreement. He also touched upon the delimitation process. When asked by a journalist whether different maps could be used in different sections, he replied, “The principle is that the delimitation should be carried out to restore the legally binding border that existed in 1991, and accordingly, the most updated legal maps from 1991 should be used. In this context, the map from the General Staff from 1976 is the primary one for this section.”

Kostanyan also informed that there is currently no agreement regarding a new meeting between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan. It should be noted that the commissions on the delimitation issues of Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed on April 19 to start the delimitation from the Tavush region. It was announced that the description of these border sections would be formulated based on the clarification of coordinates resulting from geodetic measurements in the terrain, which is supposed to be completed by May 15, 2024.