ArmInfo. Armenia's government is firmly committed to rapidly establishing peace in the South Caucasus and transitioning the region to a stable, predictable path, that considers the interests of all countries in the region.
This was stated by Nikol Pashinyan, the head of the Armenian government, speaking at a regular
meeting of the Council of CIS Heads of State in Moscow. Expressing
gratitude to the Russian Federation and its President for their
hospitality, Pashinyan informed the attendees on the progress of the
peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan and outlined Yerevan's
vision for further development.
<This year, we have made significant progress in the delimitation
process of the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border. Specifically, three
sections of the border were delimited based on the Alma-Ata
Declaration of 199. In these sections, the former inter-republican
administrative border of the Soviet Union has been established as the
newly delimited interstate border. This is undoubtedly an example of
success>, Pashinyan said. According to him, another important event
took place on August 30 of this year, when the regulation on the
joint activities of the State Commissions on the delimitation of the
state border between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of
Azerbaijan was signed. <In Armenia, the internal procedures for
passing this document are almost finished, and the Parliament of
Armenia will review the ratification of this document later this
month.>
<It is worth noting that the Constitutional Court of the Republic of
Armenia has confirmed the compliance of the signed provision with the
Constitution of the Republic of Armenia. It means that the
recognition of the territorial integrity of the Republic of
Azerbaijan by the Government of the Republic of Armenia based on the
Almaty Declaration, encompassing the entire territory of Soviet
Azerbaijan, is constitutional. Therefore, the Constitution of
Armenia does not contain any territorial claims against Azerbaijan or
any other country,> he emphasized. Pashinyan emphasized that the
Armenian government firmly believes that peace between Armenia and
Azerbaijan is not only possible, but also achievable. Both countries
have indicated in recent months that the draft agreement on peace
and interstate relations between the Republic of Armenia and the
Republic of Azerbaijan has been agreed upon by at least 80%.
<Recently, the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan reached an
agreement to accelerate the finalization of the draft peace treaty.
In principle, we can act according to the following logic, which is
what we propose to Azerbaijan. Sign what has already been agreed
upon, and thus have not only de facto but also de jure peace, and
continue working on all other issues. In any case, it is impossible
to draw up a peace treaty that would answer all the questions,
regulate all aspects of bilateral relations. Regardless the peace
treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, there will always be
important, fundamental issues that must be agreed upon, resolved, and
new treaties signed. Moreover, with a signed and ratified peace
treaty in place, resolving any additional issues will be much easier,
since the situation in the region will be different.
At this stage, we need to make decisions on a range of fundamental
issues that can serve as a solid foundation for peace between our
countries. This involves mutual recognition of each other's
territorial integrity, confirming the absence of territorial claims
against each other and an obligation not to make such claims in the
future. It also involves observing the principle of non-use of force
and threat of force, non- interference in each other's internal
affairs, establishing diplomatic relations and creating bilateral
mechanisms to fulfill the obligations assumed by the parties in the
peace treaty. The wording of all these issues has already been agreed
upon by the parties in the draft treaty on peace and interstate
relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of
Azerbaijan, and we are ready to sign this document this month, and
this is our official position," Pashinyan said. According to him,
another crucial factor of establishing stability in the South
Caucasus is the issue of unblocking all transport and economic
connections. "In this regard, we propose specific solutions that are
reflected in the Crossroads of Peace project we have developed. The
essence of this project is as follows: Armenia is ready to ensure
the passage of vehicles, cargo, passengers, pipelines, cable routes
through its territory from Georgia to Iran, in the opposite direction
and beyond, and from Turkey to Azerbaijan, in the opposite direction
and beyond, as well as between the main part of Azerbaijan and the
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. In response to our proposals,
Azerbaijan emphasizes that if Armenia does not want to open regional
communications, Azerbaijan will use the opportunities to communicate
with Nakhichevan, provided by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Of
course, we do not object, because this is a matter of sovereign
relations between the two countries. But I would like to emphasize
once again that Armenia wants regional communications to be opened,
and that we are ready to provide transport communications on its
territory on the same terms as those provided by the IRI.
Moreover, we are ready to agree to some simplification of border
control procedures while respecting the principles of reciprocity,
equality, observance of sovereignty and jurisdiction of countries. In
this context, I would like to emphasize that the Republic of Armenia
is fully committed to ensuring the safety of goods, vehicles and
people passing through its territory. This commitment is our
priority, our duty, and we guarantee it. Meanwhile, any claims that
Armenia has allegedly agreed in some form for third countries to
oversee the safety of communications on its sovereign territory or
that such a document is intended simply do not correspond to reality.
Ensuring security on its territory is a sovereign obligation of any
country, this is our sovereign duty, we will uphold it without fail,>
the Prime Minister of Armenia stated.
Source