YEREVAN—Azerbaijan has outlined its demands for achieving a final peace agreement with Armenia, calling for significant amendments to Armenia’s Constitution.
Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov, speaking at a conference held in Baku on December 10 titled “The Main Obstacles to Signing a Peace Agreement Between Azerbaijan and Armenia,” stated that Armenia must amend its constitution, which he said includes a clause declaring “Karabakh is part of Armenia.”
The preamble of Armenia’s Constitution cites its Declaration of Independence, which includes a reference to the 1990 joint decision on the “Reunification of the Armenian SSR and the Mountainous Region of Karabakh.”
Mammadov argued that this constitutional clause represents a fundamental obstacle to peace. “The territorial claims in Armenia’s Constitution are a significant barrier to achieving sustainable peace,” Mammadov said, adding that Azerbaijan cannot move forward with a peace agreement as long as Armenia maintains these territorial claims.
“A country that has won a war rarely offers peace, but we did,” Mammadov said.
In response, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to X hours later, reiterating Armenia’s stance on the matter. He downplayed the significance of the preamble of Armenia’s Constitution and pointed to a recent ruling by the Armenian Constitutional Court, which affirmed that the articles of the constitution itself take precedence over the 1990 declaration.
“No provision of the RA Constitution contains any territorial claim against our neighbors,” Pashinyan said, rejecting Azerbaijan’s interpretation of the document.
Pashinyan previously addressed the issue in January, stating that Armenia requires a new constitution to reflect the “new geopolitical environment” in the region. However, he has denied accusations that he intended to amend the constitution under pressure from Baku. The prime minister also made it clear that Armenia could not achieve peace with Azerbaijan while the preamble remained unchanged.
In May, Pashinyan established a government panel tasked with drafting a new constitution by the end of 2026, although the panel has yet to begin its work. This suggests that constitutional reforms may still be some time away if Armenia ultimately chooses to pursue them.
Turkey, a key regional player, has been a strong supporter of Azerbaijani demands, particularly regarding the “Zangezur Corridor” — a proposed extraterritorial link between Azerbaijan and its exclave Nakhichevan through southern Armenia. Turkey’s National Security Council recently reiterated that the creation of this corridor is vital for regional stability and must be part of any peace agreement. Armenian authorities have insisted that the route must respect Armenia’s borders and sovereignty.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on December 11 that the historic opportunity created by the “liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh from occupation” should lead to the signing of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Speaking at the 15th Ambassadors Conference in Ankara, Erdoğan stated, “We want the opportunity created by the liberation of Karabakh to result in a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.” He added that Turkey will continue to exert a “positive influence” on regional processes through its commitment to stability and peace.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also voiced optimism, announcing that peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia is now within reach. “We are close to achieving peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia,” Fidan stated, reiterating Turkey’s pivotal role in fostering dialogue and cooperation between the two nations.
Last month, a meeting took place between several Armenian and Turkish government representatives at the Armenian-Turkish border, which was only reported a few days ago. According to Armenian envoy and deputy parliamentary speaker Ruben Rubinyan, the discussions focused on evaluating the technical needs for reopening the Akhurian/Akyaka railway crossing, a key transportation link between the two nations. “The meeting took place in a positive and constructive atmosphere,” Rubinyan said. No official details about the participants or the exact nature of the discussions were made public.
The initiative is part of ongoing talks between Rubinyan and his Turkish counterpart Serdar Kılıç to facilitate closer ties between Armenia and Turkey. Their previous meetings have centered on evaluating the technical requirements to reactivate the Gyumri-Kars railway, a vital infrastructure project that both sides see as crucial for regional stability and economic cooperation.
“We have made significant progress, and I am cautiously optimistic about the future,” Rubinyan remarked, expressing hope that the constructive nature of the discussions will lead to tangible results in the near future.
In a broader regional context, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has reiterated the importance of engaging with the “Community of Western Azerbaijan” and Azerbaijanis displaced from Armenia as another critical element of the negotiation process, calling this issue a “matter of human rights.” “Western Azerbaijan” is a historical fabrication that lays claim to the territory of today’s Republic of Armenia.
In response to these demands, Armenia has reaffirmed its commitment to peace but acknowledged that significant challenges remain in treaty negotiations. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan confirmed this week that 15 out of 17 proposed articles of the Armenia-Azerbaijan agreement have been agreed upon. However, key differences persist, particularly over territorial issues and constitutional changes.
Mirzoyan emphasized that Armenia’s readiness to sign a peace agreement hinges on seeing adequate political will from both sides. “Despite the tragic past of our two states, there is an opportunity to turn the page on hostility,” Mirzoyan said, expressing hope that the two countries would finalize an agreement soon.
Armenia’s Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan has also provided an update on border delimitation talks. While discussions are ongoing, no specific date has been set for the next round of meetings. Grigoryan also noted that the process of unblocking regional communications has yet to begin, with no clear agreement on the timing or format for such discussions.
As negotiations progress, skepticism remains regarding the success of the negotiations. According to former Armenian Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazyan, Azerbaijan is actively trying to introduce new elements into the negotiations.
In a briefing with journalists on December 11, Ayvazyan said that Azerbaijan’s insistence on changing the terms of the discussions presents a challenge to achieving a final resolution. “At every step, Azerbaijan is trying to introduce new elements into the negotiating agenda, which will only disrupt or delay the process of creating a peace treaty,” Ayvazyan said.
Ayvazyan said he does not have high expectations regarding the upcoming peace agreement and is skeptical about its ability to ensure long-term stability. “It is obvious that the opposite side, if not the parties, has its own idea of a world in which Armenia’s interests occupy little or no place,” Ayvazyan said, expressing concern that Azerbaijan’s demands and views dominate the peace talks and sideline critical Armenian interests.
Further, Ayvazyan addressed Mirzoyan’s statement that 90-95% of the peace agreement had been settled. While acknowledging that many of the details might be close to finalization, he reminded the press of a fundamental principle in diplomacy: “If everything is not agreed upon, then nothing is agreed upon.”
Hoory Minoyan
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Ermenis must do everything to appease beautiful brotherly turks.
Ermeni democracy picked Nikol Pashinyan, who is hero to all Ermenis.
Listen to beautiful Englishman, @Charles, who also says Ermenis must get rid of bad Russian kartoshkas. Ermenis have made their choice, let’s make Ermenistan part of Turkiye again! That is what we wanted with democracy.
I move from beautiful Istanbul to Erivan, and make so much money introducing beautiful brotherly Turks to Nikol Civil Contract. Many Armenian NGO Bolsahyes do, that’s why we are richest Ermenis.
Time for rest of Ermenis to get with the program, new Mercedes for everyone, just embrace beautiful brotherly Turks, and get rid of Russian kartoshkas
Armenia will become part of terrorist genocidal Turkey when pigs grow wings. I hear they are giving away beautiful Mongolian luxury yurts to any Turk who agrees to go back to his homeland in Central Asia. What better way to feel proud to be Turkish than live life like your Turkish grandparents. I will give you and your imaginary wife in Canada a brand new Mercedes Benz and all you have to do is to book a pre-paid one-way plane ticket back to where your Turkish grandparents came from!
The Turks can go and take a long walk off a short cliff.
There can be no real peace with the azeris and turks until they acknowledge the genocide and make reparations. This is only further repression and subjugation. Armenia did not lose any war with the azeris. Pashoglu and his regime were bought off and sold Artsakh out. Plain and simple.
And of course, Pashinyan will agree to Azerbaijan’s every demand. Has he refused so far?
The so-called republic of Azerbaijan in South Caucasus is an artificial state and that is a fact. There has never been a nation-state called Azerbaijan and there has never been a people or a tribe, never mind a nation, called Azerbaijani in the history of the region and the world. These names are all fabrications and they have been in official use only recently in the last century or so. The only TRUE Azerbaijan, and any references to it, can be found to the south of the Aras River inside Iran and nowhere else. There is no such thing as Western Azerbaijan just like there is no such thing as fabricated Northern or Southern Azerbaijan which this former homeless pseudo-Turkish tribe with a 106 year old artificial existence claims there is.
If our incompetent and dysfunctional leaders had any honor and dignity they would respond to the enemy and making it clear to them that artificial Azerbaijan republic is the continuation and extension of the contemporary republic of Armenia which itself is only 10% of the total Armenian landmass and the remaining 90% under Turkish and Azerbaijani occupation.
Furthermore, Armenia should demand that artificial Azerbaijan republic remove the crescent and the star from their fake flag and replace them with “White and Black Sheep” representing their homeless nomadic tribes. The sheep surely would be a TRUE representation of this former homeless tribe that today has established itself as a state, a fake one of course, on occupied Armenian territories!
I support what you say but has Armenia got the military capability to do all this let alone even defend itself ? What other choices apart from idle talk has Pashoglu got ?
My family name in Armenia goes back to 1610. The leaders of our Armenia should quit their jobs for complete and utter failure and incompetence in dealing with an enemy who keeps bullying another sovereign country to change its constitution for an enemy. In a logical world, their demands border on insanity. An Armenian leader, who agrees to change, and give away parts of a sovereign country to satisfy an enemy, is an enemy to my people, and my forefathers country. I am ashamed by the failed leadership of this spineless Armenian administration. The diaspora should all come back to show you how to fight. You have failed !!!!!
@Sevan
You and Charlie are both Turk lovers and traitors.
If Pashinyan capitulates to all of Azerbaijan’s and Turkey’s maximalist demands, which is a real possibility, Armenia will effectively become their puppet state. This would entail, apart from rewriting the Armenian Constitution to appease Azerbaijan and Turkey, a further loss of Armenian territory with the cession of a land corridor to Azerbaijan in Syunik, a foreign policy that takes the interests of Azerbaijan and Turkey into account and doesn’t clash with theirs, economic concessions and other benefits for Azerbaijan and Turkey, and a military that is restricted even further. This would be even worse than the Finlandization policy imposed by the Soviet Union on Finland, because of Armenia’s landlocked geographical location, meager resources and money, and lack of allies. Unfortunately, it is “the might makes right” situation, which has befallen so many smaller countries and nations throughout history, including Armenia, by larger powerful aggressors. What is tragic, is that a weak, cowardly, appeasing and treacherous man happens to be Armenia’s leader at its most precarious time.
@Steve -but Armenians have “democracy”!!!!
Guys like Vahe Apelianand Srvan Peter B would trade all of Armenia’s integrity and territory to be a so-called western democracy
@Gelo Ball
You are right. If western democracy means at the expense of Armenia’s territorial integrity, and in addition doesn’t bring more freedoms, rights, accountability, transparency or wealth for the Armenian people, then no thanks. There is nothing more important than Armenia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security, whether it is authoritarian or a genuine democracy.
AS LONG AS ARMENIA CONTINUES TO BE A WEAK, CORRUPT, POOR, AND BACKWARDS, THIRD-WORLD TOILET, IT WILL FOREVER BE TURKEY’S AND AZERBAIJAN’S PAWN THAT WILL BE TOLD WHAT TO DO, WHEN TO DO IT, AND HOW TO DO IT. EVERY CORRUPT ARMENIAN SHOULD BE IN JAIL AS A SHAMEFUL DISGRACE AND TRAITOR TO THE NATION. EVERY PENNY SHOULD BE SPENT ON DEVELOPING NUCLEAR WEAPONS, SCIENCE, RESEARCH, AND EDUCATION. EVERY FAMILY SHOULD HAVE 10 BABIES TO REPOPULATE ARMENIA. EVERY MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD, SHOULD BE A TRAINED SOLDIER WITH GUNS AND THOUSANDS OF AMMO. MAKE ARMENIA GREAT AGAIN!
By the way, when Azerbaijan has made it clear that it won’t allow Armenians to return and live in Artsakh, after it ethnically cleansed all Armenians and systematically destroyed Armenian heritage, homes and villages, why doesn’t the Armenian government issue any statements condemning Azerbaijan’s provocative irredentist “West Azerbaijan” rhetoric and categorically refuse the return of Azeris to Armenia? When Armenians won’t be allowed to live in Artsakh or Azerbaijan, why should Azeris be allowed to live in Armenia? Since neither will happen, and after all the wars and massacres, it is best that both people never live together again.
Steve: because Pashoglu and his regime were paid off by the Azeris and US/Uk oil interests. They installed a lackey as president of Armenia. No different than the maidan uprising in ukraine in 2014.
Pashoglu will do nothing to upset his US and turkic masters.
Any peace deal should also include release of all Armenian POW’s.
Steve M
A formal population exchange is probably the best option and a segregation like as between Greece and Turkey which whilst has its tension has avoided war although have come close indeed if not for both being part of NATO undoubtedly would have had some conflict rather than the occasional border incidents .
@Charles
In Greece and Turkey, and in Cyprus, the population exchanges were made, because the Turks and the Greeks who fought and massacred each other during the Greco-Turkish War in 1919-22, and during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, still briefly lived side by side in both countries after boths wars, and these population exchanges permanently ended the violence between both peoples.
However, a population exchange between Armenia and Azerbaijan is moot, because there are practically no Azeris living in Armenia since 1990 and practically no Armenians living in Azerbaijan since 2023. Only a few dozen Azeris are estimated to live in Armenia and a few dozen Armenians are estimated to live in Azerbaijan.
Armenia is willing to formalize the already occurred population exchange for a peace treaty with Azerbaijan, but Azerbaijan has still not reciprocated and shown an interest even for a cold peace with Armenia, by sticking to this irredentist pipe dream.
Formally agreeing that Armenia is for Armenians and the tiny numbers of non Armenians such as yazidi and Georgians and Azerbaijan for Azeris and other peoples within that country should remove much of the kith kin excuses. It will be the end of Arktash but will be the end of Azeri designs of western Azerbaijan upon Armenia theoretically they could demand Armenia Allow ethnic Azeri persons deported from Armenian SSR in 1947 by the Soviet Union which made way for Many from the diaspora to settle in exchange for return to Arktash where speaking Armenian is likely to be forbidden streets named after genocidaires Alyiev personality cult a depressing prospect. Sadly Armenia engaged in pipe dream antics 1994 2020 namely a complete failure to formally recognise Arktash and to get foreign recognition. It seems that Azerbaijan is engaging in similar folly even if it has overt Turkish support and possible covert Israeli support and a spiteful approval from Russia jealous of Armenia distancing due its poor support and hypocrisy towards Armenia.
SHOOT ONESELF IN THE FOOT. Azerbaijan’s demands are ֆոր exploitating the internal division of Armenia. The Armenians, I am referring to the citizens of Armenia, who oppose the Crossroad for Peace initiative, are shooting themselves in their feet. The hyphenated Armenians in Diaspora who oppose the Crossroad for Peace initiative from far away, may be giving the Armenians ammunition to do just that, shoot themselves in their feet.
Once again, @Vahe H Apelian espousing a pro-nikol point of view
Once again, Vahe Apelian is telling Armenians to treat a schoolyard bully the way he handled being bullied as a little kid, by giving away his lunch money and then kissing the feet of the bullies who bullied him
Way to go Vahe Apelian, with Armenians like you, no wonder Artsakh has been lost, and Armenia’s very existence is at stake.
You guys really need to stop fighting eachother. You will do much better if you learn to compensate for one another and move on for the good of the country. All the best.
That makes sense, and Seems like good advice.
Pashinyan and the other Armenian government members have been awfully quiet about Azerbaijan’s neverending irredentist demands. On top of these provocations, Azerpost – the state postal service of Azerbaijan which celebrated the genocidal Second Artsakh War by issuing a postage stamp with an exterminator fumigating Artsakh in 2020 – has now unveiled a “History of Western Azerbaijan” stamp series featuring Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, which they claim as “İrəvan”.
Just type in “History of Western Azerbaijan” and “exterminator fumigating Artsakh” and these provocative images will appear.
If Armenia issued stamps about Artsakh or about Eastern Armenia – after all, most of what is now Azerbaijan, was once part of Armenia in the Classical Era – Azerbaijan would throw a hysterical fit and threaten Armenia, which it already does. Why doesn’t the Armenian government call out this double standard by Azerbaijan and condemn its incessant provocations?