Pashinyan: it is essential that Armenia, Azerbaijan agreed on basic  principles of border delimitation

ArmInfo. It is very important that during the negotiations held yesterday, Armenia and Azerbaijan  agreed on the basic principles of border delimitation.

Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan told reporters on April  20.  According to him, these principles will be recorded in the  regulations of the delimitation commissions.  "We carried out a  preliminary demarcation, thereby giving a start to this process," the  head of government said, adding that resolving the issue with the  regulations is essential, and the parties have moved towards it  during the previous seven meetings of the commissions. 

"We often pass laws that subsequently need amendments. But if in the  case of laws we are talking about domestic issues, then in interstate  relations it is necessary to consider all the nuances. Especially  since these agreements will be ratified and will have practical  significance. It would be very difficult to continue on the path of  unresolved issues," Pashinyan emphasized.

He added that both Armenia and Azerbaijan have no experience in  carrying out delimitation, and its start from the Tavush region  should be perceived as a pilot project. The country's borders, the  prime minister continued, should be redefined in accordance with the  provisions of the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration, according to which the  administrative borders of the Soviet republics are recognized as  their state borders.  Thus, now it is important to go and, as they  say, "on the ground," de jure clarify the borders, as well as the  maps on which they are established, Pashinyan emphasized.

He added that sections of the borderline immediately between the  settlements of  the Armenian village of Baghanis- Azerbaijani  Baghanis Ayrum, Armenian Voskepar- Azerbaijani Ashaghi Askipara,  Armenian Kirants- Azerbaijani Kheyrimli, Armenian Berkaber-  Azerbaijani Ghizilhajili will be established based on the  maps of  2024 based on maps of the previous period. It is possible that this  year the delimitation of a number of other sections of the border  will be adjusted, which will be reflected on the maps of 2024. "But  it is obvious that this year it is unlikely that it will be possible  to complete this process, therefore, everything that remains for next  year will be marked on the maps of 2025, and so on for the rest of  the years," said the head of the Armenian government.

Yesterday, the parties agreed to complete agreement on the draft  regulations on joint activities of delimitation commissions by July  1.The parties have agreed that the process of  delimitation will be  based on the  Alma-Ata Declaration of 1991. The parties have also  arranged to stipulate this fundamental principle in the draft  Regulation (in the future, in case the Agreement on establishment of  peace and interstate relations between the Republic of Armenia and  the Republic of Azerbaijan provides otherwise, the relevant clause of  the Regulation will be brought into compliance with the principles as  prescribed by this Agreement). Agreed that after the parties approve  the Regulation, they will arrange the order and continue the  delimitation process of all the remaining sections of the border,  including the issues of enclaves and exclaves.  Yesterday, the eighth  meeting of the commissions on state border demarcation was held on  the border of Armenia and Azerbaijan, following which a protocol was  signed. According to the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the  delimitation of borders of the separate sections of the borderline  immediately between the settlements of  the Armenian village of  Baghanis- Azerbaijani Baghanis Ayrum, Armenian Voskepar- Azerbaijani  Ashaghi Askipara, Armenian Kirants- Azerbaijani Kheyrimli, Armenian  Berkaber- Azerbaijani Ghizilhajili has been preliminarily agreed  upon.