Pashinyan: Armenian government firmly committed to rapid  establishment of peace in the South Caucasus

ArmInfo. Armenia's government is firmly committed to rapidly establishing peace in the South Caucasus and transitioning the region to a stable, predictable path, that considers the interests of all countries in the region.

This was stated by Nikol Pashinyan, the head of the Armenian government, speaking at a regular  meeting of the Council of CIS Heads of State in Moscow. Expressing  gratitude to the Russian Federation and its President for their  hospitality, Pashinyan informed the attendees on the progress of the  peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan and outlined Yerevan's  vision for further development. 

<This year, we have made significant progress in the delimitation  process of the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border. Specifically, three  sections of the border were delimited based on the Alma-Ata  Declaration of 199. In these sections, the former inter-republican  administrative border of the Soviet Union has been established as the  newly delimited interstate border. This is undoubtedly an example of  success>, Pashinyan said. According to him, another important event  took place on August 30 of this year, when the regulation on the  joint activities of the State Commissions on the delimitation of the  state border between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of  Azerbaijan was signed. <In Armenia, the internal procedures for  passing this document are almost finished, and the Parliament of  Armenia will review the ratification of this document later this  month.>

<It is worth noting that the Constitutional Court of the Republic of  Armenia has confirmed the compliance of the signed provision with the  Constitution of the Republic of Armenia. It means that the  recognition of the territorial integrity of the Republic of  Azerbaijan by the Government of the Republic of Armenia based on the  Almaty Declaration, encompassing the entire territory of Soviet  Azerbaijan, is constitutional.  Therefore, the Constitution of  Armenia does not contain any territorial claims against Azerbaijan or  any other country,> he emphasized. Pashinyan emphasized that the  Armenian government firmly believes that peace between Armenia and  Azerbaijan is not only possible, but also achievable. Both countries  have indicated in recent months that the draft agreement on  peace  and interstate relations between the Republic of Armenia and the  Republic of Azerbaijan has been agreed upon by at least 80%.

<Recently, the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan reached an  agreement to accelerate the finalization of the draft peace treaty.  In principle, we can act according to the following logic, which is  what we propose to Azerbaijan. Sign what has already been agreed  upon, and thus have not only de facto but also de jure peace, and  continue working on all other issues. In any case, it is impossible  to draw up a peace treaty that would answer all the questions,  regulate all aspects of bilateral relations. Regardless the peace  treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, there will always be  important, fundamental issues that must be agreed upon, resolved, and  new treaties signed. Moreover, with a signed and ratified peace  treaty in place, resolving any additional issues will be much easier,  since the situation in the region will be different. 

At this stage, we need to make decisions on a range of fundamental  issues that can serve as a solid foundation for peace between our  countries. This involves mutual recognition of each other's  territorial integrity, confirming the absence of territorial claims  against each other and an obligation not to make such claims in the  future. It also involves observing the principle of non-use of force  and threat of force, non- interference in each other's internal  affairs, establishing diplomatic relations and creating bilateral  mechanisms to fulfill the obligations assumed by the parties in the  peace treaty. The wording of all these issues has already been agreed  upon by the parties in the draft treaty on peace and interstate  relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of  Azerbaijan, and we are ready to sign this document this month, and  this is our official position," Pashinyan said.  According to him,   another crucial factor of establishing stability in the South  Caucasus is the issue of unblocking all transport and economic  connections. "In this regard, we propose specific solutions that are  reflected in the Crossroads of Peace project we have developed. The  essence of this project is as follows:  Armenia is ready to ensure  the passage of vehicles, cargo, passengers, pipelines, cable routes  through its territory from Georgia to Iran, in the opposite direction  and beyond, and from Turkey to Azerbaijan, in the opposite direction  and beyond, as well as between the main part of Azerbaijan and the  Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. In response to our proposals,  Azerbaijan emphasizes that if Armenia does not want to open regional  communications, Azerbaijan will use the opportunities to communicate  with Nakhichevan, provided by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Of  course, we do not object, because this is a matter of sovereign  relations between the two countries. But I would like to emphasize  once again that Armenia wants regional communications to be opened,  and that we are ready to provide transport communications on its  territory on the same terms as those provided by the IRI. 

Moreover, we are ready to agree to some simplification of border  control procedures while respecting the principles of reciprocity,  equality, observance of sovereignty and jurisdiction of countries. In  this context, I would like to emphasize that the Republic of Armenia  is fully committed to ensuring the safety of goods, vehicles and  people passing through its territory. This commitment is our  priority, our duty, and we guarantee it. Meanwhile, any claims that  Armenia has allegedly agreed in some form for third countries to  oversee the safety of communications on its sovereign territory or  that such a document is intended simply do not correspond to reality.  Ensuring security on its territory is a sovereign obligation of any  country, this is our sovereign duty, we will uphold it without fail,>  the Prime Minister of Armenia stated.