ArmInfo.As part of the work on preparing the text of the peace treaty, Armenia and Azerbaijan came to the understanding that the parties needed mutual guarantees about the absence of hidden territorial claims against each other, Armenian Premier Nikol Pashinyan stated at a meeting with representatives of his Civil Contract party.
"We must record the fact that, in theory, peace between us is possible. And in fact, conversations lately have been in the direction of the fact that we do not have and undertake in the future not to present territorial claims to each other," the head of government said. Pashinyan emphasized that the absence of territorial claims should be secured de jure by a peace treaty.
At the same time, he noted that despite the statements of official Baku, which may leave the impression that Azerbaijan is deliberately trying to bring the peace process to a dead end, Armenia should not change its strategy.
"Our strategy has been and will continue to be the following: strengthening and asserting the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia should occur on the basis of the Alma- Ata Declaration, because this is the understanding of the entire international community," he said. The head of government noted that the internationally recognized territory of Armenia is the territory of the Armenian SSR. "And when we stand on the defense of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of this internationally recognized territory, we stand on legitimate grounds, which should, in the case of professional work, become an additional factor for our security," he added.
Pashinyan once again emphasized that he expects guarantees from Baku about the absence of hidden territorial claims, noting that Armenia, for its part, is ready to provide them. "These are interconnected processes," he concluded.
Armenia and Azerbaijan reaffirmed their commitment to the UN Charter and the Alma-Ata Declaration of 1991, through which both sides recognize each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
The agreement was reached following a meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, which took place at the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron and the head of the European Council Charles Michel in Prague.