Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan highlighted the need of reaching an settlement with Azerbaijan on the method of defining their borders to keep away from the eruption of a brand new battle.
“This means that it is necessary to clarify where the Armenian border actually lies,” Pashinyan stated throughout a gathering with native residents within the village of Voskepar within the northeastern Tavush area.
“We see that we can start a real process of delimitation and demarcation in this section from Baghanis to Berkaber (villages),” Pashinyan stated, including {that a} battle might begin if Armenia opposes the method with Azerbaijan however his coverage is to keep away from such a state of affairs.
“We are doing this not only for Armenia, but also specifically for the villages of Voskepar and Kirants, to ensure the safety of these villages,” he stated.
In December, the 2 sides agreed to start negotiations on a peace treaty. However, many residents of Armenia’s border areas have resisted the demarcation effort, seeing it as Azerbaijan’s encroachment on the areas they take into account their very own.
Speaking to residents of the border village of Voskepar within the Tavush area, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan warned that Armenia’s refusal to delineate the border might set off a brand new confrontation.
“It would imply {that a} battle might erupt by the top of the week,” Pashinyan stated. He famous that the border demarcation must be based mostly on mutual recognition of the territorial integrity of Armenia and Azerbaijan based mostly on Soviet maps from 1991 after they have been each a part of the Soviet Union.
“We shouldn’t allow the war to start,” Pashinyan said. “And that is additionally the rationale that we determined to go to delimitation of the borders in these components of Armenia.”
The hostilities have badly strained Russia-Armenia ties, with Armenian authorities accusing Russian peacekeepers who have been deployed to Karabakh after the 2020 battle of failing to cease September’s onslaught by Azerbaijan. Moscow, which has a army base in Armenia, has rejected the accusations, arguing that its troops didn’t have a mandate to intervene.
Moscow, in flip, has been angered by Pashinyan’s efforts to deepen ties with the West and distance his nation from a Russia-dominated safety alliance of ex-Soviet nations. Russia was additionally vexed by Armenia’s determination to hitch the International Criminal Court, which final yr indicted Russian President Vladimir Putin for alleged battle crimes linked with the battle in Ukraine.
NATO chief urges Azerbaijan, Armenia to succeed in normalization, peace deal
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg inspired Azerbaijan and Armenia to succeed in an settlement Tuesday to normalize relations and set up peace.
“Armenia and Azerbaijan now have an opportunity to achieve an enduring peace after years of conflict. This is why I urge both countries to reach an agreement paving the way for the normalization of relations and a durable peace for your people,” Stoltenberg stated at a news convention in Yerevan with Pashinyan.
Expressing that Armenia has lengthy been a NATO accomplice, Stoltenberg stated he welcomes and appreciates Yerevan’s contribution to NATO missions and operations, notably in Kosovo.
He stated NATO helps Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, in addition to its “peaceful aspirations.”
“Russia’s war in Ukraine is a sobering reminder that we cannot take peace for granted. I welcome your solidarity with Ukraine and invite all partners to do what they can to ensure Putin doesn’t win his war of aggression,” stated the NATO chief.
He additionally stated he and Pashinyan talked in regards to the progress of Armenia’s home reforms.
Pashinyan stated Armenia is excited about persevering with to develop its political dialogue with the alliance in addition to increasing its partnership with the group and particular person member states.
“In light of the developments in our region, it is extremely important for Armenia to strengthen its resilience and develop appropriate defense capabilities,” stated Pashinyan, expressing that he offered to Stoltenberg his authorities’s imaginative and prescient and strategy to establishing stability and peace within the South Caucasus.
He conveyed his nation’s willingness to normalize relations with Azerbaijan based mostly on three ideas — the Alma-Ata Declaration of 1991 on recognition of one another’s territorial integrity, the delimitation of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border and the unblocking of regional infrastructures.
“We expect the firm support of the international community, including NATO, for the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan based on known and mutually agreed upon principles,” he stated.
Pashinyan added that Yerevan is dedicated to normalizing relations with Türkiye, indicating his perception that the implementation of agreements reached in 2022 could have a optimistic impact on establishing stability within the South Caucasus area.
Relations between Baku and Yerevan have remained tense since 1991, when the Armenian army occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally acknowledged as a part of Azerbaijan, and 7 adjoining areas.
Most of the territory was liberated by Azerbaijan throughout a battle within the fall of 2020, which ended after a Russian-brokered peace settlement that additionally opened the door to normalization.
Azerbaijan established full sovereignty in Karabakh after an “anti-terrorism operation” in September 2023, after which separatist forces within the area surrendered.
Both nations proceed discussions to find out their mutual border, with talks having been held between the border commissions on seven events since May 2022.
Source: www.dailysabah.com