Aliyev Says He Won't Sign Peace Agreement with Armenia Until Armenia Changes Its Constitution and Drops Claims Against Azerbaijan & Turkey

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has declared that Azerbaijan will not sign a peace treaty with Armenia unless Armenia changes its constitution. Speaking at a meeting with a delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States, Aliyev emphasized the need for Armenia to end its territorial claims against Azerbaijan and Turkey – essentially forgetting about the 1915 Armenian Genocide by Turkey and 2023 Artsakh Mass Exodus by Azerbaijan.

Aliyev pointed out two main issues he has with the peace process. First, he criticized the Armenian constitution, which he claims includes territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Second, he called for an end to Armenia's "groundless territorial claims" against both Azerbaijan and Turkey. Aliyev suggested that both countries should jointly request the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to dissolve the Minsk Group, which he argued is no longer functioning effectively.

Aliyev spoke about the recent developments, such as Azerbaijan occupying four Armenian villages in the Tavush Province of Armenia without any conflict. He threated that if Armenia had “heeded” Azerbaijan's requests in 2020, the Second Artsakh War and subsequent anti-terror operations could have been avoided. 

Aliyev made it clear that a peace agreement is impossible while Armenia's current constitution remains unchanged. He argued that maintaining territorial claims in their constitution is incompatible with the peace process. According to Aliyev, comparing the military, demographic, and economic potentials of the two countries, any territorial claims by Armenia against Turkey or Azerbaijan are unrealistic and dangerous.

The Azerbaijani president's statements follow Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's call for a new Armenian constitution that reflects the region's "new geopolitical environment." Pashinyan denied that this move was influenced by Baku, but acknowledged that peace with Azerbaijan would be difficult as long as the constitutional reference to the 1990 declaration of independence remains.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan recently stated that the constitutional issue is not currently on the agenda of ongoing peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.