Armenian Government Hides Remaining Disagreements with Baku in Peace Treaty Talks

The ongoing negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan over a bilateral peace treaty have hit a snag, with Armenia's leadership opting to keep the remaining disagreements secret. Despite significant progress, key issues continue to block the signing of the treaty, and both sides have yet to resolve these differences publicly.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced over the weekend that Armenia and Azerbaijan have reached full agreement on 13 out of 17 articles in the draft treaty. Pashinyan proposed that the two countries sign an interim agreement based on these agreed-upon articles while continuing to negotiate the remaining issues. However, he did not disclose what these unresolved issues are.

The reluctance to reveal the specifics of the disagreements reflects a cautious approach by Armenia’s leadership. When asked about the outstanding issues, other senior Armenian officials were also tight-lipped. Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan told journalists, “If there is additional information to report, I will tell you.”

Sargis Khandanyan, chairman of the Armenian parliament's committee on foreign relations, supported Pashinyan’s proposal, stating that the agreed provisions cover “all basic principles of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.” He emphasized that these provisions align with the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration, which recognized the Soviet-era borders of newly independent Soviet republics.

Azerbaijan has rejected the proposal for an interim deal. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov criticized the framework deal suggested by Yerevan, claiming it lacks several “important provisions,” though he did not specify what these are. Another Azerbaijani official, Himet Hajiyev, added that Armenia would need to amend its constitution before a final peace agreement could be reached. Hajiyev also called for “restrictions” to be placed on Armenia’s armed forces, a demand that has been met with resistance from Armenia.

In response to calls for restrictions, Khandanian argued, “Third parties cannot force or demand Armenia not to purchase ammunition or weapons.” He stressed that Azerbaijan has not yet formally requested these new demands to be included in the treaty.

One contentious issue has been the transport links between Azerbaijan and its Nakhijevan exclave. The two sides have agreed to exclude this topic from the treaty. Azerbaijan wants to open transport links through Armenia’s Syunik region without Armenian border controls, a demand Yerevan has firmly rejected. Armenia insists that it cannot compromise on its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Prime Minister Pashinyan reaffirmed Armenia’s stance on the issue, stating that while Yerevan is open to allowing a foreign private company to provide “additional security” for a highway and railway connecting Nakhijevan to Azerbaijan, Armenian border and customs officers will continue to oversee transit traffic through Syunik.

The 2020 ceasefire deal brokered by Russia, which ended the Nagorno-Karabakh war, stipulates that Russian border guards stationed in Armenia will “control” the movement of people, vehicles, and goods to and from Nakhijevan. However, there is disagreement over the interpretation of this provision. Armenian officials argue that it only allows for monitoring, not direct involvement in border controls. This interpretation has led to renewed criticism from Russian officials in recent weeks.

The peace treaty negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan remain complex and fraught with challenges. The decision by Yerevan to keep the remaining disagreements confidential shows the sensitive nature of the talks. As both sides continue to work towards a resolution, the path to a final agreement is still uncertain, with significant issues yet to be resolved.