Cabinet meeting on December 14, 2023 (Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia)
YEREVAN—In a recent Cabinet session, the Armenian government approved the procedure for organizing and conducting joint working meetings between bilateral commissions on state border delimitation and security with Azerbaijan.
Armenian Deputy Minister of Justice Ara Mkrtchyan, who introduced the draft of the procedure, emphasized that the adoption of this procedural framework will empower commission members to establish the groundwork for border delimitation and demarcation processes. This framework aims to cover legal and technical aspects, ultimately leading to the development and signing of a pertinent document demarcating the national border between the two nations.
According to Mkrtchyan, the time, date and venue of these sessions will be mutually agreed upon by the commission chairpersons. The sessions will occur alternately in Armenia and Azerbaijan’s territories, along their shared border, in third-country territories or through video conferencing. “If conducted in either country’s territory, the hosting side will ensure all necessary conditions, including participants’ safety,” highlighted Mkrtchyan during the December 14 cabinet meeting.
Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan underscored the document’s current role in regulating organizational matters and facilitating bilateral interaction between the two sides. Grigoryan said that the next step in the process will be to create another set of rules that would focus on defining specific methodologies. This would include detailed descriptions of crucial terms like the definition of a map and what exactly qualifies as a document with legal significance. Once consensus is reached on these methodologies, the plan is to move forward with concrete documents and engage in discussions specifically centered around topographic maps.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stressed the necessity for reciprocal approval from the Azerbaijani side, asserting: “The institutionalization of the border delimitation process marks a historic milestone. Its transparency is crucial. It’s not a confidential document. It will be open to the public.” Pashinyan urged an intensified collaborative effort to propel the ongoing work forward and achieve tangible progress.
Pashinyan also unveiled the “Crossroads of Peace” initiative during the Ministerial Meeting of Landlocked Developing Countries on December 14. The PM’s presentation emphasized the regime’s readiness to actively engage in re-establishing communication channels with Azerbaijan.
Addressing the potential for signing a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the near future, Pashinyan highlighted that if Baku upholds its agreements, the prospect of a peace treaty will “increase in probability.”
Expressing Armenia’s intent, Pashinyan stated, “The Republic of Armenia is committed to reinstating railway connections between Azerbaijan and Armenia, utilizing the pre-existing railway infrastructures.” The proposed routes include the northern track connecting Azerbaijan’s Kazakh district to Armenia’s Tavush province and the southern track linking various regions of Azerbaijan, including its exclave Nakhichevan.
Pashinyan also addressed the recent exchange of 32 Armenian POWs for two Azerbaijani soldiers on December 13, regarding it as a starting point for potential progress. He stated, “I consider the recent developments as a baseline from which we can strive to ensure that forthcoming updates signify an increased likelihood of signing a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, not the contrary.”
However, concerns persist, as dozens of Armenian prisoners and the military-political leaders of Artsakh are still detained in Baku.
Former Artsakh State Minister Artak Beglaryan highlighted the return of 32 Armenians from captivity in Baku as a positive step, yet drew attention to the unresolved plight of at least 23 confirmed prisoners who remain detained in Azerbaijan. Among them, 14 are civilians who were captured between 2020 and 2023, with approximately 20 originating from Artsakh. “It is imperative that all these individuals be released, and international pressure is needed to ensure their freedom,” Beglaryan said.
Beglaryan’s remarks shed light on the continuing concerns regarding those who remain imprisoned in Azerbaijan, urging concerted efforts to secure the release of these detainees, particularly emphasizing the civilian status of a significant portion of the captives.
In the midst of negotiations, during a joint press conference in Baku, significant remarks were made following a meeting between Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. Bayramov said that a recent package of draft proposals for a peace treaty from Armenia indicates “certain progress.”
However, contentious points on a peace treaty persisted, notably Baku’s dismissal of Yerevan’s proposition to withdraw troops from the border. As a consequence of Azerbaijan’s aggression against Armenia in May and November of 2021, and September 13, 2022, Azerbaijan has seized control of over 150 square kilometers of sovereign Armenian territory. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan had recently mentioned the withdrawal of troops as an important confidence-building measure that would prevent new escalations.
Bayramov dismissed the suggestion during a press conference with his Turkish counterpart, claiming that the Azerbaijani army remains within its territory. Bayramov denied that Azerbaijan occupies Armenian territory, highlighting the complexity of the undelimited Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
Amid intensified diplomatic efforts, including Azerbaijan’s bid to involve Turkey in talks with Armenia, and evolving proposals, members of the international community have expressed their anticipation for forthcoming meetings. They pin hopes on these discussions to yield substantial advancements toward securing enduring peace and stability between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The European Union has taken a significant step by engaging with both Baku and Yerevan to organize a forthcoming meeting in Brussels. This development follows confirmation that Azerbaijan accepted a proposed meeting initiated by the United States. The meeting, scheduled for January, is set to bring together the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Washington. This follows Azerbaijan’s recent refusal to participate in high-level talks organized by the United States and the EU.
Head of the press service at the U.S. State Department Matthew Miller has extended a warm welcome to Turkey’s involvement in negotiations. He highlighted the shared stance between Washington and Ankara in backing direct talks between Yerevan and Baku and their mutual support for achieving lasting peace in the region.
In an interview with ABC Media, Turkish expert Tiran Lokmagyozyan underscored that such steps by Azerbaijan and the statements emerging from Turkey suggest the imminent signing of a peace agreement within a notably short span.
Lokmagyozyan cautioned that the primary objective of this agreement might not solely revolve around achieving peace. He suggested that the agreement may include provisions aligning with the interests of Azerbaijan and Turkey. He referenced EU Council President Charles Michel’s remarks about the importance of signing a peace treaty, which he argued signifies a synchronized effort between the Armenian government, the West and Azerbaijan.
Political scientist Artur Martirosyan has criticized the reliance on guarantees or agreements for lasting peace in Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations, highlighting the challenges of proposed mechanisms and the lack of an arbitrator to enforce international norms. He expressed doubts about the forthcoming meeting between the foreign ministers in Washington, arguing that Azerbaijan could manipulate it for political advantage in its upcoming snap presidential elections. Martirosyan also suggests that Armenian concessions may not lead to peace due to potential hindrances from Azerbaijan and Turkey.