In a historic breakthrough, Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed on the text of a peace treaty to end nearly 40 years of conflict, marking a significant step toward stability in the South Caucasus region.
Officials from both countries announced on Thursday that negotiations on the peace agreement had concluded, paving the way for its signing. Armenia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that the treaty was finalized from its side, stating, “The peace agreement is ready for signing. The Republic of Armenia is ready to start consultations with the Republic of Azerbaijan on the date and place of signing the agreement.”
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry also acknowledged the progress, saying, “We note with satisfaction that the negotiations on the text of the draft Agreement on Peace and the Establishment of Interstate Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have been concluded.”
Uncertainty Over Signing Timeline
Despite the breakthrough, the exact date of the treaty’s signing remains uncertain. Azerbaijan has set a condition that Armenia must amend its constitution, which Baku claims includes implicit territorial claims. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has acknowledged the need for constitutional reforms and has proposed a referendum, though no date has been set.
Russia’s TASS news agency cited Pashinyan stating that the agreement would prevent foreign personnel from being deployed along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. This condition could impact both the European Union’s civilian monitoring mission, which Baku has criticized, and Russian border guards stationed in parts of Armenia.
Decades of Conflict and Displacement
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan dates back to the late 1980s, when the Nagorno-Karabakh region, home to a majority ethnic Armenian population, sought to break away from Azerbaijan with Armenia’s support. This led to multiple wars and mass expulsions, with hundreds of thousands of people displaced.
Azerbaijan regained control of Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023 following a military offensive, prompting almost all of the territory’s 100,000 Armenian residents to flee to Armenia, where they now live as refugees.
Path to Peace Amid Tensions
While both nations have expressed a desire to formalize the agreement, relations remain fragile. Their 1,000 km shared border is heavily militarized and remains closed.
Tensions escalated in January when Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev accused Armenia of posing a “fascist” threat, comments that Armenia’s leadership saw as a possible justification for renewed conflict.
Sources By Agencies
