YEREVAN—Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced his plans for a meeting with the president of Azerbaijan to discuss a durable peace agreement, a few weeks after Azerbaijani forces took control of Artsakh.
In an interview with Armenian Public TV on Tuesday, Pashinyan claimed that the principles for negotiation were set in Granada and that the suggested meeting in Brussels must follow the same principles. “When Aliyev tries to suggest another platform for negotiations, it neutralizes the agreed upon principles,” said Pashinyan.
The announcement comes a week after Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev pulled out of an EU-brokered meeting with PM Pashinyan in Granada, Spain on October 5. Aliyev had requested the presence of Turkey at the meeting, to which France and Germany objected. Aliyev stated that Baku felt “an anti-Azerbaijani atmosphere” had developed among the meeting’s potential participants and refused to participate.
During his interview on Tuesday, Pashinyan said that the meeting in Granada delivered two important statements with European leaders: a quadrilateral statement with French President Emmanuel Macron Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and European Council President Charles Michel and a bilateral statement with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
These statements highlight the deepening relations between Armenia and the EU. Pashinyan asserts that these statements outline the pillars of “peace” in the region, including mutual recognition of territorial integrity, delimitation of borders based on the Alma Ata declaration and USSR maps, and the unblocking of communications under the protection of sovereignty, jurisdiction, equality and reciprocity. However, Aliyev’s decision not to attend the meeting and refusal to recognize the territorial integrity of Armenia complicate prospects for the protection of sovereignty, equality and any sort of reciprocity.
The quadrilateral statement signed by Pashinyan in Granada recognizes 86.6 thousand square kilometers of Azerbaijani territory, which includes not only Artsakh but also the enclaves liberated during the First Artsakh War. While the Prime Minister’s press office has denied these allegations following the meeting in Granada, Pashinyan stated that the 86.6 thousand square kilometers include these enclaves during a press conference in May 2023.
Indeed, the recent phone conversation on October 7 between Aliyev and Michel highlighted the ongoing territorial disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan. President Aliyev reiterated the presence of eight occupied Azerbaijani villages in Armenia and emphasized the importance of liberating these areas.
During the first Artsakh War in the 1990s, Armenia liberated approximately 60 square kilometers of land from Azerbaijan. This included the enclaves of Verin Voskepar, Tigranashen, Sofulu and Barkhudarlu, as well as several villages near Baganis in the Tavush region and a small area near Sarigyugh. Conversely, Azerbaijan seized around 71 square kilometers of territory from Armenia, including Artsvashen (51 square kilometers), the village of Berkaber (12 square kilometers), and territory near Sevkar in the Tavush region (about 5 square kilometers).
The enclaves controlled by Armenia hold significant strategic importance for the modern Armenian state. Tigranashen is crucial as it lies on the interstate highway connecting central Armenia with Syunik, Artsakh and Iran. Losing Tigranashen would limit Armenia’s access to Artsakh and Iran, with only one exit through the village of Vedi. This would allow Azerbaijan to launch attacks on central Armenia and potentially isolate Syunik. Additionally, the Voskepar enclave is vital as it hosts the gas pipeline from Georgia to Armenia, and losing control over it would pose risks and potentially lead to an energy blockade.
A few days after the summit in Granada, Aliyev said France would be to blame for any new conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, following Paris’ promise to deliver military equipment to Armenia last week. “The provision of weapons by France to Armenia was an approach that was not serving peace, but one intended to inflate a new conflict, and if any new conflict occurs in the region, France would be responsible for causing it,” said Aliyev.
Following Aliyev’s statement regarding the enclaves, in an interview with Brussels Signal, Armenia’s ambassador-delegate to the EU Davit Balayan said that Armenia expects Azerbaijan to invade within a few weeks. According to Balayan, Azerbaijan may not stop at the capitulation of Artsakh and could potentially launch an attack on Armenia itself. Balayan expressed concern that President Aliyev’s expansionist plans have not faced any concrete repercussions. He emphasized the need for practical steps from the collective West to confront Azerbaijan and prevent further aggression.
Armenia says that President Aliyev intends to target the “Zangezur” corridor, which refers to the strategic transportation route extending from the Azerbaijani capital of Baku to Kars, Turkey’s eastern province, passing through sovereign Armenian territory in the Syunik province near the country’s border with Iran. Balayan suggested that the EU should set a deadline for Aliyev to withdraw his army from the Armenian border region and consider suspending Azerbaijan’s visa-free travel agreement. He also mentioned that individual sanctions could send a clear message.
In parallel to the peace process brokered by the European Union led by France, other major players in the region continue their efforts. In an interview with Russian RBC news, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin noted that Moscow is considering the possibility of a meeting between the foreign ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan at the CIS summit in Bishkek on October 13.
Galuzin expressed hope for continued dialogue between the three countries and emphasized the importance of Armenian participation in the negotiations. He also discussed the potential for cooperation between Russia, the U.S. and the European Union in normalizing Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, highlighting the need to acknowledge the progress made through Moscow’s mediation. However, the office of the Armenian Prime Minister said that Pashinyan will not travel to Bishkek to participate in the CIS summit.
Hoory Minoyan
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With the spectacular attack on Israel by Hamas and the possibility of an expanded war in the Levant. This whilst showing the strong may not always be as strong as they appear! This will take the west attention note how attention to Ukraine has diminished as a result hence Armenia will be even more overlooked. Along with the fact that Armenia has signed up to the ICC which has an arrest warrant on Vladimir Putin means that Russian assistance is most unlikely. Azerbaijan isn’t on as good terms with the west as some of the pro Russian posters like to imply yet it’s apparent that the west probably won’t do much more than platitudes if Azerbaijan was to invade Armenia. However it does mean that Azerbaijan is unlikely to be getting much weapons from Israel for the time being. It’s remarkable the Russian invasion of Ukraine was obvious that something was bound to happen and media were reporting on Azerbaijan looking set to attack Arktash yet there was no hint of Hamas launching its jailbreak operation.
I checked the ICC website, I saw Georgia (2003), Moldova, Lithuania etc in the list but not Armenia. Interestingly, Tajikistan is a signatory too.
All the pro-Westerners on here are the ones who failed their Geography exams at school.
Just look at a map to see why it is so absolutely vital for Armenia to stay close to Russia.
Nikol “the cuckold” pashinyan is the pride and joy of most Armenians, especially Armenians belonging to COAF and AGBU
Armenians chose nikol “the cuckold” pashinyan over Armenia
Good job folks!!!
A historic tragedy is palying out right in front of our very eyes. We are where we are because we allowed our Western and Turkish financed agents drive a wedge between Armenia and Russia. Some of us were warning about all this for the past 5 years. We were called Putin’s agents, Kocharyan’s agents, traitors, etc. If any of you reading this are looking for someone to blame for what happened to Artsakh, take a close look in the mirror and blame yourselves. Anyone that at any time spoke against Robert Kocharyan, Serj Sargsyan, Vladimir Putin or Russia, you partook in making this tragedy possible. Those who supported Nikol and his Western financed Turkophiles at any time during the past 5 years have the blood of Artsakh Armenian on their hands.
The past 30 years have proven beyond any doubt that Armenians are not ready for independence. The past 5 years have shown beyond any doubt that Armenians don’t even deserve independence. If Armenia does not join Russia in some form in the near future, there will not be an Armenia on the world map.
All in all, today’s Armenia is what Armenia looks like without direct Russian support. This is what the masterminds of our pro-Western activists operating under the guise of promoting “independence” and “westernization” wanted all along. This is what the Armenian sheeple enthusiastically voted for twice. This is what the so-called traditional Diaspora helped make possible. This latest tragedy in Armenian history was again authored by none other than Armenians themselves. Those who preach Russophobia in Armenian society are traitors of Armenia.
If Armenia’s only way to be free of AZ and Turkey is to return to the Soviet Union, then Putin will most likely force Armenians to join the Russian army in the war against Ukraine if it continues over a period of time. Undoubtedly, there will also, be an exodus of Armenians out of the country, just as there were those who left Russia at the outbreak of the war with Ukraine. Since Armenia’s independence they have made little progress in building up their military defense and offensive capabilities. Unfortunately, Putin made sure of that as he doesn’t want them to align with the West. The corruption within the government over the last years hasn’t helped either.
It is exactly the way I see it.
This view is not an opinion. It is not based on our old and historical affiliations and alienations with such or such other state or nation, or what we had been subjected to by whomever. It is today,s reality, it is today’s pragmatism, and it is today’s imperative.
A prosperous, autonomous Armenia, Armenian people & culture under a large federation is a much more viable alternative than an agonizing independent Armenia condemned to death.
The problem is, that we could have done this years ago from a position of force and good will, and gained a better recognition than now that we are in this miserable position and shame where we have no negotiating power whatsoever, especially after denigrating what could have been our main allies had we had the wisdom and capacity of thinking strategically.
Mobilize the Armenian Diaspora in Every Country in the world against Azerbaijan and it’s allies and sympathizers! Armenian people in every nation of the world must unite and take to the streets for the world to open it’s eyes against this brazen unacceptable, unfounded aggression. Where are our leaders, ukrainian president Zelensky has travelled to many, many countries begging for support and financial help, speaking directly to other countries parliaments, comgress but Armenian so-called leaders are silent! Where are our religious hierarchy- why aren’t we speaking until we are out of breath.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Do we not have one strong leader amongst us?
“”Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced his plans for a meeting with the president of Azerbaijan to discuss a durable peace agreement,….””
Even donkeys learn from their mistakes…. this guy is worse.
You do not discuss peace with an enemy. You impose peace !!!
we are far from being able to do it.
and in this weakness, we spat on every possible state relation, and bet on the wrong sides too often.
Comes war, we will have to fight till the last armenian, if we want others to sympathize with us, let alone help us.
Nobody cares about you if you don’t care about yourself.
The question is: Are we ready for it ?
@HAROUT! IMPOSE PEACE WITH WHAT POWER??? WINE? WHAT MILITARY POWER DOES ARMENIA HAVE TO DEMAND PEACE??? PEACE COMES THROUGH STRENGTH AND ARMENIA IS A WEAKLING IN AN ALLEY OF MONSTERS!!! ARMENIA WASTED 30+ YEARS SELF-DESTRUCTING BY CORRUPTION, DEPOPULATION, SINGING AND DANCING WHILE OUR ENEMIES WERE ARMING THEMSELVES TO THE TEETH!!! TELL ME AGAIN, WITH WHAT STRENGTH? WHAT MILITARY? WHAT ARMY? JETS MISSILES, DRONES, TANKS, FIREPOWER, THOUSANDS OF SOLDIERS DOES ARMENIA HAVE ANY POWER TO IMPOSE PEACE????? ARMENIA MUST DEVELOP NUCLEAR WEAPONS!!!
Is there any input here from the USA? They have an Ambassador in Yerevan. Their silence is deafening.
Those who call for unity with Russia ought to look at it’s behaviour with Syria. In order to curry favour with Israel, Putin declined to send better weapons to thwart Israeli air attacks nor intervene against Israeli attacks on Russia Syrian ally and it’s partner Iran whom it would coordinate with against terrorists but would look the other way when Israel attacked. Such actions or inactions ask serious questions about Russian creditability as an ally. What kind of friend is this if unsure look beyond Armenia to see how Russia behaves !
We are not Syria, We are Armenia. Two slightly different geopolitics.
Don’t forget that Russia has first its own interest in mind. Every country is the same and we should have no illusion about it.
Of course Russia will grab a lot of interests in Syria. But think a bit: what would have happened to Syria, if there wasn’t that intervention.
And Russia, has to manage its pawns around many many strong and aggressive players around.
As for us, What is the alternative? The west? the same people who destroyed the arab countries. The same people who have given us only lip service? The same people who among others (including russians perhaps) let us down in 1915.
The same people who let down the kurds…
The examples are plenty.
Unfortunately the choices are very few.
And in Armenia, politicians are plenty.
Real leaders scarce… probably none.
Harout,
Don’t waste your time with Charlie. He is not here on his own volition. He is here to push a pro-western narrative and engage in political spin. Syria would have been wiped off the map had it not been for Russia. No doubt about that!
Israel is asking all young Jewish students in American universities to join the Israeli reserve units and go to Israel to fight against Hamas! Why don’t Armenian young men and women,world-wide, go to Armenia,get military training and become reservists for future wars between Armenia and her sworn enemies Turkey and Azerbayijan!Enough of camps and singing of patriotic songs!
@ART!! EASY FOR YOUNG JEWS IN THE DIASPORA TO JOIN IDF WHEN IT HAS THE MOST ADVANCED WEAPONS SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD!!!! ARMENIA HAS PREHISTORIC SOVIET WEAPONS!!!! ASKING ARMENIAN DIASPORA TO GO TO ARMENIA TO JOIN THE ARMY AND FIGHT WITH 1970S WEAPONS???? ARMENIA NEEDS TO WAKE UP! GET ITSELF IN GEAR! DECLARE MARTIAL LAW! WHERE ARE OUR BRILLIANT ARMENIAN PHYSICISTS??? ENGINEERS??? SCIENTISTS??? WHY CAN’T THEY DEVELOP WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION TO DEFEND ARMENIA???? ARE WE TOO STUPID?? POOR??? DISORGANIZED??? SCARED??? AZERBAIJANIS ARE PATHETIC AND STUPID YET THEY ARE OUTSMARTING ARMENIA OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN!!! TURKS ARE HELPING THEM!! WHAT IS ARMENIA’S PLAN??????
There are probably many answers to your question and inquiry but I think that question should be asked of the Armenian leadership in Armenia who have over the years treated the Armenian Diaspora communities nothing more than a “cash cow” instead of devising a patriotic program to invite them home with various incentives
and integrate them into the homeland. Unfortunately it seems they themselves are subservient to a foreign power whose interests they serve instead of serving the interests of the Armenians at home and across the globe. If they had half a brain, at the minimum, a quarter of the Armenian Diaspora communities around the world, those of the Middle East and the Near East in particular, should have been absorbed into the Armenian society in the homeland by now since Armenia’s independence back in 1991 which, by the way, would have solved the issue you raised. Instead we saw the exact opposite where some of the natives leaving the homeland formed their own Diaspora communities in various corners of the world, in the USA in particular. I think those in charge in Armenia do not want to share power with those with political mentality and outlook that is outside of the Armenian political system in Armenia. I could be wrong but that’s what I think.
@ Gurgen, the secular pluralist government of Syria probably would have failed if not for Russian support. However you are missing the point. Syria is a Russian ally with treaty bases there yet Russia has concurred with enemies of that country namely Israel by not providing more modern air defences in order to keep favour with that country which recurrently attacks Syria and it seems Putin had a great obsession with modern Russian military equipment being outstanding and didn’t want to supply Syria with modern weapons that Israel might destroy which would compromise their reputation. Nevertheless with Russia invasion of Ukraine their success belong to it but so do their failures such as loss of S 300 and S 400 systems thus it amounted to a case of being to clever by half on Putin’s part. Simply put can you imagine the USA doing so with an ally?
¡ON
Hence those wondering about Armenia and Pashinyan government and the relationship with Russia. Would do well to observe it’s conduct with other allies rather than look solely via an Armenian perspective.
If Azerbaijan invades Armenia in following weeks will Armenia fight back or just let it go? Azerbaijan already occupied some 200 square kilometers of Armenian territory.
What’s Iranian position in possible conflict, because I’ve read Iran will not allow losing the border with Armenia.
I’m not from this region but I just want to know more. I strongly oppose eventual invasion of Azerbaijan and I do not want it to happen. I expect at least France to react but not just verbally.
Wish you all the best!
I meant I oppose eventual Azerbaijani invasion of Armenia. I made typing mistake.
whats next then?
– Armenia will get modern weapons from France, india and possibly some western countries. Will this change the military imbalance?
– Pashinyan will continue getting a pad on the back from western leaders. Especially France will continue financial support, small amount of help. Moral support etc. BS in short
– France may try to pass another UN resolution, Russia or Us will block. Unless AZ is sanctioned Aliyev wont feel any financial pain
– glandale crew will continue expressing their frustration on karabakh, aliyev etc, with no real impact, like this post
none of the above will change the power dynamics on the ground.
– Russia will slowly dismantle their observation posts and leave karabakh.
– Russia may start charging for gas before winter. At this point Russians aware of how they left Armenians high and dry, may try to win the public. They are stuck between a rock and hard to win Armenian hearts. Putin may choose to punish pashinyan/economy by charging for gas, this will crush household budgets/economy.
– Money will continue flowing into Azerbaijan 47 billion dollars of oil/gas proceeds.
– world attention will be on mideast/israel crazies.
– erdogan will find the right moment to attach syunik. the person who is calling the shots is not aliyev.
– Iran is the only unknown here. I do not know what they can or will do to protect syunik
– US will never give up on AZ. The real reason is Israel/Us has the final goal of dismantling Iran around ethnic lines. Us wants an independent kurdish state along with azeris declaring independence from iran. It may sound like a stretch but farsi people are only around half of Iranian population.
someone has to bring sense into this guy. Unless Pashinyan changes course, dark days are waiting Armenia
I think Aliyove won’t take a risk after what has happened in the Middle-East over last 10 days. As a matter of fact he lost his main supporter, and cannot sleep these days, poor boy crying for Bibi all the time.
Ilham Aliyev is an empty suit. He is an opportunist hyena and a terrorist hiding behind other terrorists. He took over his late KGB father Heydar in 2003 after his passing, whose army we wiped out, and despite the fact that his annual military budget was more than Armenia’s annual state budget, which he publically boasted about accompanied by his warmongering rhetoric, he could not even put a dent on the Armenians for nearly two decades. Ilham Aliyev’s terrorist cesspool has oil wealth but what it lacks is military competency. That is why he dragged, directly and indirectly, genocidal Turkey and morally-bankrupt and hypocritical Israel into this conflict to conduct the fighting for him. The last time Ilham Aliyev tried his luck on his own was in April of 2016 using the same type and quality weapons and failed miserably. His entire disastrous adventure lasted only 4 days! The whole thing was over in less than a week after all those years of preparation. We also witnessed how this insignificant nobody soiled his pants when Iran moved its combat-ready troops close to the borders of his artificial state. He was also MIA during the 1990s Armenian Liberation War. He thinks the whole world is blind to his cowardice. He is indeed a TRUE coward, a master manipulator, an untrustworthy liar and a dictator obsessed with power who uses this conflict to keep his politically ignorant and gullible peasant population in check in order to remain in power. This Aliyev KGB MAFIA clan has been running this terrorist dictatorship, a gas station disguised as a country, since 1960s unopposed?!
What happened in the region recently has thrown this worthless fool Ilham Aliyev’s plans off course. All the attention that was focused on Iran with potential plans to further isolate Iran by way of disconnecting it from Armenia, not to mention Israel’s secret plan to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities from the bases they have set up in our enemy territory next door, by Iran’s brilliant move and indirect action has now been transferred from Iran’s backyard to Israel’s backyard! What will Ilham the chicken-hawk Aliyev do now without his Israeli owners and agents!
all I see in the comments is just copium and more copium. Armenia needs this peace more than anybody in that region. if there is anyone in fear and anxiety it’s Armenia’s pashinyan.