Armenia refuses to sign peace treaty with Azerbaijan

Baku/17.09.23/Turan: Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia announced on September 17 that there would be no signing of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan at the upcoming third summit of the European Political Community scheduled for October in Granada. Pashinyan cited Baku's alleged reluctance to uphold a balance of interests as the primary obstacle, pointing to the blockade of Karabakh and the deepening crisis in the region.

Addressing the situation, Prime Minister Pashinyan expressed his frustration, saying, "I think we are wasting a lot of time because of the humanitarian crisis and the blocking of the corridor. The time and energy that Armenia, unfortunately, continues to waste on the settlement of this issue to no avail, could be directed to the discussion of a peace treaty." When asked about the likelihood of signing an agreement before the end of the year, Pashinyan noted, "I should always consider it possible."

This revelation follows an earlier statement by the head of the European Council, Charles Michel, who announced plans for a new meeting between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Granada in October. The summit is expected to include the participation of Michel himself, as well as the leaders of France and Germany - Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz.

It's worth noting that Baku has set forth three key demands for Yerevan to consider for signing a peace treaty: the cessation of interference in Azerbaijan's internal affairs, the withdrawal of Armenian Armed Forces from the Karabakh Economic Region (KER), and the recognition of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. Pashinyan's recent statements have hinted at a shift toward recognizing Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan, and there have been reports of individuals in attire resembling disguised Armenian Armed Forces personnel in civilian clothes departing Karabakh. Nevertheless, Armenia continues to influence the policy of Armenians in KER.

On September 15, Baku presented Pashinyan with a new package of proposals aimed at concluding a peace treaty. The specific contents of this package remain undisclosed.

Despite the setbacks, Prime Minister Pashinyan expressed hope that intensive negotiations will persist and eventually lead to a resolution. "We are working on this and on unblocking the Lachin corridor, overcoming the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Baku-Stepanakert dialogue," Pashinyan asserted, highlighting ongoing efforts to find common ground and navigate the complex issues surrounding the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.--0--