YEREVAN—Following the recent Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit for the Heads of State meeting in Moscow, the Armenian government announced on Tuesday, October 8 that Russian border guards will cease operations at the Armenian-Iranian border checkpoint starting January 1, 2025. Following this change, the National Security Service of Armenia will take sole responsibility for border security at the checkpoint.
Additionally, Armenian border guards will collaborate with Russian forces to secure the borders with Turkey and Iran. This agreement was confirmed after a meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier in the day.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Pashinyan presented the specifics of the “Crossroads of Peace” initiative to enhance regional communications and shared a brochure outlining the program. He also expressed concerns regarding the terminology and language used by several Russian officials in discussions about regional issues. In August, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Armenia of sabotaging the ninth point of the trilateral agreement between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia, which seeks to facilitate the reopening of transportation routes through Armenia’s Syunik province.
Nazeli Baghdasaryan, spokesperson for the prime minister, noted that Armenia’s government maintains a consistent stance on regional communications, both in formal and informal formats.
Armenia also declined to endorse two statements adopted at the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Moscow, another sign of the growing rift between the countries. Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan attended the meeting, but no explanation was given for the decision. The first statement focused on cooperation in security, economics and culture within a multipolar Eurasian framework. The second statement opposed the use of unilateral restrictive measures in international relations, calling them coercive actions that violate the U.N. Charter aimed at pressuring states to change their policies.
President Putin also engaged in discussions with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the sidelines of the summit, highlighting positive developments in Russian-Azerbaijani relations and the potential for collaborative projects in energy and infrastructure. Aliyev noted an increase in bilateral engagements since Putin’s state visit to Baku in August.
Furthermore, President Putin reported a substantial rise in trade between Russia and Armenia, with figures reaching $7.4 billion last year and an impressive increase of 2.5 times in the first half of this year, surpassing $8.3 billion. If current trends continue, trade volumes could reach a record $14 to $16 billion by the end of this year.
President Putin also extended invitations to both leaders to participate in the upcoming BRICS summit, scheduled for October 22-24 in Kazan.
The topic of the “Zangezur” corridor was likely addressed during discussions between the Russian president and his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
Peskov noted that Putin engaged in separate conversations with each leader, suggesting that the discussions included a brief exchange of views. “The president spoke with each of them individually, and it is probable that the issue of the Zangezur corridor was among the topics discussed,” Peskov stated.
President Aliyev did not provide a clear timeline for a potential peace treaty with Armenia. When asked about the agreement’s timing, Aliyev stated, “When we agree on everything,” leaving the question open-ended. In response to further inquiries on the possibility of an agreement by the end of this year, Aliyev simply shrugged, signaling uncertainty about the prospect.
Meanwhile, PM Pashinyan announced that Armenia is ready to sign the agreed draft of a peace treaty with Azerbaijan this month. He made this statement during a meeting of the leaders of the CIS participating countries in Moscow.
Pashinyan said that addressing fundamental issues could serve as a strong foundation for establishing lasting peace between the two nations. “At this stage, we must make a decision on the framework of key issues that can solidify the basis for peace between our countries. We need to be prepared for that process,” he stated.
Pashinyan highlighted several critical elements of the proposed treaty, including mutual recognition of each other’s territorial integrity and a commitment to refrain from territorial claims now and in the future. He also called for upholding the principles of non-use of force, non-interference in internal affairs, the establishment of diplomatic relations and the creation of bilateral mechanisms to fulfill the obligations outlined in the treaty.
Pashinyan noted that the language regarding these issues has already been agreed upon, and he affirmed, “We are ready to sign that document this month, and that is our official position.”
Recent developments suggest setbacks in Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks. After several months of promising progress toward a lasting resolution, talks appear to have entered a regressive phase. Recent comments by Aliyev indicate that Baku may have halted negotiations. In a speech on October 4, Aliyev accused Armenia of acquiring arms with the intention of reclaiming control over Artsakh.
This address followed a meeting between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in New York on September 26 mediated by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Following those discussions, both parties expressed commitments to intensifying efforts toward finalizing a peace agreement.
However, Aliyev’s remarks seem to undermine that commitment, as he also delivered pointed criticism of the United States and Secretary Blinken personally. In the wake of his October 4 speech, Armenian officials have publicly questioned whether Azerbaijan remains dedicated to establishing peace as outlined in the Alma-Ata Declaration. As of now, Baku has not officially responded to these concerns.
Meanwhile, in response to the Armenian Supreme Court’s ruling on the border delimitation commissions, the spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry suggested that the ruling reinforces what it calls Armenia’s territorial claims against Azerbaijan as outlined in the Armenian Constitution.
In a ruling seen by critics as government-influenced, Armenia’s Constitutional Court diminished the legal significance of the preamble to the country’s constitution, which Azerbaijan claims obstructs peace efforts between the two nations. Following a brief session, the court approved the parliamentary ratification of an agreement intended to outline border delineation principles between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The court’s decision focuses primarily on the constitution’s preamble referencing Armenia’s 1990 declaration of independence. Azerbaijan argues that this declaration maintains a territorial claim over Artsakh. Azerbaijani officials have stated that Baku will not agree to a peace treaty unless Armenia repeals this declaration and other related legal documents.
To eliminate the preamble’s legal standing, a new constitution would need to be enacted. Pashinyan and his administration have indicated plans to pursue this by 2027 but assert that the preamble does not affect Armenia’s recognition of Azerbaijani sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry rebutted the response by Azerbaijani officials, stating that the Constitutional Court’s decision emphasizes that only the provisions of the 1990 Declaration of Independence that are explicitly included in the Constitution hold legal force. “Anything not articulated in the articles of the Constitution cannot be deemed constitutional, leaving no room for alternative interpretations,” a ministry spokesperson noted.
The Foreign Ministry also highlighted that the December 21, 1991, Alma-Ata Declaration explicitly recognizes the territorial integrity and inviolability of borders among the former Soviet republics. This recognition reinforces the legitimacy of existing borders, which are documented in maps held by both Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Armenian representatives emphasized that the draft treaty prohibits future territorial claims, countering Azerbaijan’s suggestion that Armenia would use a “backup option” to assert claims. They expressed concern that Azerbaijan’s interpretation of the Alma-Ata Declaration may indicate its own territorial ambitions, masked by accusations against Armenia.
Additionally, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry referred to Armenia’s military acquisitions as evidence of “mass militarization.” In response, Armenian officials argued that a comparison of military expenditures and capabilities reveals a different narrative. “The Armenian leadership is focused on establishing peace and regulating relations with its neighbors rather than solely on military strength,” they stated, contrasting this with Azerbaijan’s declared priorities.
Hoory Minoyan
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These are very ominous developments for Armenia and the Armenian people are deliberately left in the dark about the fate of their country by Pashinyan, who is colluding and is bartering Armenia with Russia, Turkey and Azerbaijan. That is 100% a certainty.
And no wonder why this traitor is being so secretive, since he must be enganged in talks with those three regional thugs, and which must entail plans about the mutilation of Armenia’s already violated territorial integrity and its emasculation as a viable and independent state.
Pashinyan’s rosy so-called “Crossroads of Peace” plan is nothing more than a farce serving as a propaganda tool for himself, and is a disguise of what I described above.
The risk of a truncated Armenian puppet state, is a very real possibility, which I believe few of us would have imagined, before the rise of Pashinyan and the disastrous Second Artsakh War. And the fact that this is being enabled by this fifth columnist, makes it all the more horrifying.
Armenia needs to move cautiously and pragmatically in regulating relations with its neighbours. Turkey, Russia and Azerbaijan are acting and cooperating as allies and anyone who thinks that the Armenian authorities are colluding with Armenia’s enemies does not comprehend current geopolitical realities. It is also interesting that no one seems to be critical of the corrupt opposition who have essentially become the fifth columnist for Russia and for its plans and objectives in the region.
Pashinyan was put in power by the Turks, the Jews and the Americans.
And yet, he is still in power.
Armenians should be storming the gates but they’re not.
If Armenia ends up as a Turkish vilayet, the Armenians will have no one to blame but themselves.
Armenia’s traitor-in-chief Pashinyan is so out of touch with reality that he should truly be committed to an insane asylum. They say insanity is repeating the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. This incompetent sorry excuse for a leader Pashinyan keeps making one-sided concessions to our despicable enemy hoping to sign a peace deal with a dictator that peace is the farthest thing in his mind, with his terrorist elder Turkish brother-in-crime Er-dog-an on his side, but of course to no avail and every concession he makes is met with new demands and this fool still does not seem to get that his so called “era of peace” is nothing but a pipe dream.
Another thing here that is quite alarming and shows this failed journalist turned flip-flopping prime minister is misleading his politically ignorant gullible citizens is the fact that all along he has been claiming Armenia, as a result of recent events due to his own incompetency, is not militarily in a position to take a hostile and much more realistic position towards our enemy to protect our interests, he does not seem to have that very same problem by replacing the Russian border guards at the Iranian border, a neighbor that poses no threat to Armenia, with badly-needed Armenian forces when he could use them in places where they are needed the most and use them to show muscle and resilience to the enemy, not to mention demanding the enemy forces leave sovereign Armenian territory. He is truly pathetic and a disgrace to the entire Armenian nation and values.
Armenia cannot survive as an american proxy and thus a country at odds with Russia. It just cannot, without being absorbed and Turkified. Hayastancis are asleep at the wheel as the mole pashoglu acts as a payed US stooge and delivers up Armenian territory little by little.
Hes already degraded our once strong capable military. That was once considered the most battle ready army in the post soviet union
@ Vartan, it was during Armenia alliance with Russia post 1994 that Armenia lost its advantage with Azerbaijan. As part of the CTSO it was impossible to purchase weapons from NATO members. The tie in was acceptable IF it upheld Armenia advantage but in the event of it clearly having failed. Then reassessment is merited.
Unfortunately we have more Russian paid trolls as Armenian Patriots here
Elia kazan, interesting name, where are you from? Have you heard of the Donmeh?
@ELia Kazan
Unfortunately we have more American paid trolls as Armenian Patriots here.
Quite obviously, you failed your geograpjy exam at school.
Suppose you and the other American paid trolls got your wish and the Russians pulled out, how long after that, would Armenia become a Turkish vilayet?
Are you going to give your body and blood to Armenia to defend it from the Turks when they attack and invade?
Well,are you?
You Armenian Americans are nothing but a curse for Armenia.
There seems to be a missing the point about a prosaic reason behind some of this; namely Russian military is losing many men in Ukraine hence needs more replacement for the front there. Thus a wayward ally whom it’s been rather cavalier and shoddy in many ways with cynically taking advantage of the issues with Turkey and Azerbaijan isn’t a priority anymore.
Half truth Charlie, once again advocating a pro turk voice
Charlie, why did you forget to mention Artsakh was lost after Armenia did a tonne of deleterious actions against the CSTO like imprisoning former CSTO head Khatchaturov?
Charlie, why are you he’ll bent on Armenia becoming genocided again?
Charlie, why do you only give Half truths to your jibber jabber?
Ignore Charlie.
He is a Turk lover.
Yakub, Robert
Arktash was on shaky ground legally anyway never recognised by Armenia as a state entity nor incorporated into Armenia. The Russian led CTSO never affirmed defensive protections for Arktash thus it was reliant on Armenian support only the issue survived in limbo and international neglect whilst there were four UN rulings in favour of Azerbaijan particularly over lands outside Soviet era NK held by Armenia who as Arktash sponsor didn’t come under any meaningful pressure as the issue was never forefront one like the Palestine issue is there is much indifference to the issue in the wider world which perhaps was mistaken as tacit approval or not objection. Russia with no sense of irony began to favour Azerbaijan whom it had been supplying more weapons to than legal ally Armenia and it’s own occupation of parts of internationally recognised Georgia and Ukraine were something that didn’t as it turned out render them sympathetic over unfair Soviet demarcations which sadly many Armenians thought Russia would be appreciative of as an ally and in similar circumstances in some ways but were to be mistaken.
As for the “Turk loving”claims against me by pro Russian Armenians often not actually resident in Armenia nor Russia it seems..
“Turk loving” is Putin’s Russia job in evermore Tatarised Moscow actually and from the Kremlin perspective Turanian interests are more important than Armenian ones. With Turkey and Azerbaijan and the Turkic states in central Asia and the Tatar population in Russia are obviously going to outweigh Armenian ones especially as it helped to truncate Armenia in the 1920s and pre revolution encouraged ethnic Armenian rebellion against the Ottomans without being able to support them adequately when the Ottomans engaged in genocidal retaliation in response.
@Charles,
Your analysis lacks depth and evidence. Artsakh population carried Armenian passports and used Armenian currency. That means Artsakh was a defacto state recognized by Armenia and in many ways already integrated into Armenia. I mean if you carry a passport issued by the republic of Armenia to travel abroad and use Armenian currency to transact that means you are already an integral part of Armenia. What you don’t seem to understand is the fact that non-recognition of Artsakh as a state by Armenia was out of necessity because peace negotiations, mediated by the OSCE, and even though I never believed in peace with terrorist Azerbaijani cesspool, were going on at the time and any official and public recognition of Artsakh by Armenia would have derailed that process and most likely lead to clashes. I believe the Armenian leaders of the time were trying to gain the recognition of Artsakh by way of People’s Right to Self-Determination, one of the UN charters equal in weight to that of territorial integrity, followed by its eventual integration into Armenia thereafter. Kosovo was an example of that except that Kosovans, unlike the Armenians, had no connection to the land taken away from Serbia and given to them and, unlike the Kosovans, Armenians were the indigenous population of Artsakh regardless of its status, with deep connection to the land they had been inhabiting almost exclusively since time immemorial. It was a long process to get to the ultimate goal of international recognition that the current incompetent traitor-in-chief Pashinyan interrupted, threw the entire process off-course and ruined by scrapping all that the Armenian leaders at the time had accomplished.
Azerbaijan was still in a weak state and quite impotent militarily despite its massive petrodollar wealth and was losing hope without outside intervention on their behalf such as terrorist Turkey’s direct military involvement without which things today would have been not much different from pre 2020 joint Turkish-Azerbaijani invasion of Armenian liberated territories. After nearly thirty years of attempts in futility to regain control Azerbaijan seemed to have resigned to giving up Artsakh in return for territories around it used as buffer zones and knowing full well that a majority Armenian-populated region that was forced into and made part of Azerbaijan artificially by USSR can never be an integral part of Azerbaijan. What took place was a premeditated and coordinated campaign of sabotage by Pashinyan driven by his western globalist schemes.
Ararat
Holding passports and using currency in law doesn’t count as national sovereignty over a territory.
Clearly Armenia had no success in gaining international support for the self determination of Arktash. UN resolutions had affirmed that the area was part of Azerbaijan as per being part of Azeri SSR and called for Armenia to withdraw especially from the areas outside of soviet NK . Although not with any force behind them as the wider world was largely indifferent to the issue. In the 24 years Armenia had in the legal sense achieved nothing prior to Pashinyan taking office in 2018. Azerbaijan had steadily eclipsed it’s disadvantage from the 1990s and by 2020 abetted by support from various nations especially Turkey and Israel was able to reverse the defeat of 1994 . In 2016 clashes ended with Azerbaijan making some gains although only four days before it eased off it nevertheless showed that the situation was changing and Armenia sadly failed to appreciate this reality in 2020 it could no longer be denied. Wars are often manipulated, such the massive support to Ukraine and Israel in their conflicts alone would be struggling somewhat but that is the way of things in this world. In 2014 Russia had it easy in Crimea not the same anymore. In 2023 Israel had become so dysfunctional it was caught out by Hamas.
@Charlie
It is not a question of “supporting Russia” but of living in the real world and accepting geographical realities.
I am beginning to wonder if you know where Armenia actually is.
Manic and genocidal Turks on Armenia’s eastern and western borders.
3 million Armenians surrounded by 95 million Turks.
And what do you do?
Criticise Russia constantly without presenting an alternative.
Fantasies about the Americans coming to Armenia’s rescue don’t count.
You want the Russians out. Fine. What then?
The only people who benefit are the Turks.
That is why you are a Turk lover.
Robert Whig
It’s hard to take one’s opinions seriously when one posts draft comments such as Armenia should try to induce the tectonic faults around Istanbul and suggests development of nuclear weapons not that such has kept Russia and Israel unharmed. It was Pashinyan government which overcame inaction of previous governments to recognise Palestine yet one slammed him a few months ago for at the time continuation of Yerevan policy of not recognising Palestine but fails to give credit where it’s due.
The issues with Turkey and Azerbaijan have been an absolute boon for Russia in its relationship with Armenia. Indeed it’s attitude is Armenia has nowhere else to go. There is the simple principle that just because someone is an enemy doesn’t mean that someone else is a friend and the issues have led to many Armenians overate the relationship.
@Charlie
There are only 3 million Armenians, which means there are only 1 million Armenian taxpayers.
That figure is important as it means that the amount of money that Armenia will ever have is limited.
I have never advocated for Armenia to have nuclear weapons because I don’t think Armenia has the money for them and because all that will happen is that the Turks will get their own nuclear weapons to target Yerevan.
I did ask you if you thought Armenia getting nuclear weapons was an alternative to destroying Istanbul, you never replied.
Although the Turks can copy Armenia and get nuclear weapons, one thing they cannot do is change geology.
Istanbul is fragile as it is built on geological fault lines.
Such a tempting target.
Just as Armenia cannot change its geography so the Turks cannot change their geology.
You never understand that, for Armenia, the enemy is not Russia but the Turks but you don’t want to understand that as you are a Turk lover.
Attempting to induce an earthquake anywhere is so far fetched even with nuclear weapons and not worthy of suggesting really it’s fantasy hope against hope delusional bluster and hence scareley worth acknowledging. Calling “Turk lover” when I state that Armenia and Armenians ought to be less fulsome about Russia is stating the truth and a weak deflection. After all historical let downs and the recent one namely failing to protect the remnants of Arktash from siege then storming shows that Russia let the Armenian population of Arktash down to be wry no Berlin airlift nor Sarajevo siege relief from Russia for the Armenians it had assumed protection of. Hence those who left for Armenia in September 2023 passing posters of Putin were bound to be less enamoured than the people in 2020 which ar the time was a poor comparison to NATO over the Albanians it championed over Kosovo in 1999 who have every reason to exhalt the USA even if the honeymoon has passed as US/ NATO relationships with Serbia have improved it’s voting against Russia and supplying weapons to nations supplying Ukraine is probably part of the reason. Ignoring Russia own relationship with the Turks is part of the problem for Armenia and it’s people too many for too long living in a bubble of wishful thinking.
@Charlie
And the alternative is what?
Tell us, Turk lover.
Do.
Robert
My advice is to be realistic; no talk about crazy plans to induce an earthquake in Istanbul no matter how appealing lol. Acknowledgement that Russia has its own priorities and interests which don’t necessarily chime with Armenia that it’s sentiments about Turkey and Azerbaijan are rather different from Armenian! nor this doesn’t mean that Armenia should do a ‘Ukraine’either actually… Give credit where it’s due even if otherwise disagreeing; despite opinions to the contrary earlier this year Pashinyan government recognised Palestine putting an end to an anomaly. Accept that what was true then isn’t necessarily true now namely the success of 1994 was very true then but matters had changed in the meantime Azerbaijan had transformed it’s military considerably more than Armenia hence able to reverse their failure a generation ago. It wasn’t like picking up a book after decades to continue where one had left off! As stated in financial investments advertising “past performance is no guarantee of future success” living in the past and relying on past glories is pride before disaster arrogance before a fall . Be realistic that whilst a good fight against the odds all that was actually achieved in 1994 was a ceasefire on favourable terms and that for various reasons Armenia never affirmed independence recognition of Arktash let alone formal integration in Armenia although in practical ways had by it’s own laws never did and the failure in this regard predated Pashinyan government. Attempts to normalise with Turkey and Azerbaijan should reduce the chances of future conflicts and hence should be welcomed not condemned, the great error was not to make an offer which would have preserved some of gains holding on to everything vis a vis Arktash has resulted in losing it all. Obviously there will be gripes and bitterness and a sense of injustice. The reality is that Azerbaijan and Turkey are neighbours and some kind of accommodation is going to have to be made on that geographic reality which includes that Russia doesn’t adjoin and yes Greece, France, India , USA are further afield but are sympathetic and shouldn’t be ignored and Armenia sourcing weapons from them to safeguard it’s position is a welcome persuit of national security despite the spite and malice spewed by Azerbaijan, Turkey who want Armenia helpless and Russia who wants Armenia soley dependant in this regard of aggravating tensions as they claim. Last and not least ad hominems such as ” Charlie ” and “Turk lover” it’s rather pathetic deflection to brush off dissenting and uncomfortable views of your dislike. An echo chamber of complete concurrence is dangerous and the risk of believing ones own propoganda which is what happened to Armenia after 1994 when any suggestion of compromise when Armenia had the advantage such as the parliament attack in opposition led to hubristic conceit and squandered advantage…
Half truth Charlie,
You gave no alternatives, just a long-winded narrative about why you’re a turk lover
You are pathetic
Yakub
It’s hard and risky to suggest alternatives as they carry their risks it’s easier to urge caution on infatuations. Although some brush off with Turk lover as a catch all as their enduring coping mechanism it seems.
War with the Turks is inevitable.
Ataturk formulated the “Armenia Plan” more than a 100 years ago and the Turms have stuck to it rigidly.
Armenia to be reduced to an area of 10,000 square kilometers, one third of its present size, centered around Lake Van, the remaining two thirds of Armenia to be annexed by the Turks and the Armenians to be expelled.
That is what Charlie’s friends have in store for Armenia.
There are 3 million Armenians and 95 million Turks. Armenia cannot fight a conventional war against the Turks as it will lose.
However, an unconventional war against the Turks does give Armenia a chance of victory.
Istanbul is cursed by its geology.
War with the Turks is coming.
Terrify the Turks.
Hit Istanbul again and again and again.
The truncated 10,000 square kilometer Armenian puppet state was supposed to be centered around Lake Sevan, according to the Turks’ and Azerbaijanis’ revised plan, not Lake Van, which was already under almost continuous Turkish rule since the 11th century. Before they revised their devious plan, they did not envisage the existence of Armenia at all, but to divide it among themselves, and to exterminate or deport all Armenians – which they already did within the current borders of Turkey and Nakhichevan. I bet the Turks and Azerbaijanis thought of themselves as magnanimous and tolerant, for later allowing the Armenians their own state (under their control) and for allowing them to live!
Istanbul does not need to be destroyed by nukes and missiles, because this city is expected to be destroyed by the megaquake, according to many prominent seismologists in this decade or in the next decade at the latest. An additional double whammy, is that megastunamis occured in the Sea of Marmara more than 10,000 years ago, not just regular tsunamis caused by the powerful historic earthquakes, which additionally devastated Istanbul. Huge undersea landslides ranging from 30 cubic kilometers to 100 cubic kilometers have been documented at the bottom of the Sea of Marmara, which is only 11,000 square kilometers in size, and which caused megatsunamis that ranged from 30 to 100 meters in height. Also today, the bottom of the Sea of Marmara is unstable and the undersea cliffs are slowly sliding and are at risk of undergoing a similar huge landslide.
Earthquakes strike at random: Tokyo, Los Angeles are expected to have a strong earthquake at some point too. Such things happen in own time and place and are dispassionate… Armenia has had occasional strong earthquakes such as Spitak in 1988. Look to ones own interests and whilst bearing in mind it’s certainly not something to hold hopes for as ones salvation.
@Steve M
I meant Lake Sevan.
Typo!
:)