Completion of Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty negotiations important starting point in process of normalizing Armenian-Azerbaijani relations

ArmInfo. The completion of the  peace treaty negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the  final approval of the text of the document are an extremely important  starting point in the process of normalizing Armenian-Azerbaijani  relations. This was stated by RA Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan at  a meeting of the RA National Assembly Committee on Foreign Relations  on March 14.

According to him, the conclusion of a peace treaty will help  establish peace both around Armenia and in the region. "Armenia has  proposed that Azerbaijan quickly begin consultations regarding the  place and time of signing the document," the minister said, adding  that he had already familiarized himself with various statements,  many of which are speculative. "In this regard, I would like to  clearly state that the text of the treaty does not contain a clause  that would concern the so-called "corridor." Moreover, the document  does not contain any references to unblocking the region's transport  communications. It contains a clause on the parties' readiness to  cooperate in various areas, including transport, transit and economic  issues," Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized, pointing out that this provision  is consistent with Yerevan's constructive approaches, which has been  repeatedly stated. In particular, the Armenian side proposed that  Azerbaijan unblock the railways at the first stage, which would allow  the railways of the two countries to take advantage of each other's  transit capabilities. At the same time, as the head of the RA MFA  noted, all those roads that will be unblocked will have to remain  under the jurisdiction of those states through whose territories they  pass.  There is also no need for third countries to exercise control  over these infrastructures. Various mechanisms used by civilized  countries can be used to control cargo passing through the territory  of Armenia.

The head of the RA MFA also reported that the draft agreement does  not contain any clauses according to which the heirs of those who  left before the collapse of the USSR will be able to return to the  places of residence of their ancestors. There are also no provisions  regarding the Constitution of Armenia. "It is known that we also have  our concerns regarding the Constitution of Azerbaijan, which contains  territorial claims to Armenia and its territorial integrity. In any  case, one must understand one thing: a peace treaty is usually  concluded between states that were hostile to each other, but even  when concluding a peace treaty, and such facts are also known from  the facts of history, all existing problems cannot be solved at  once," Ararat Mirzoyan noted, adding that the document between  Armenia and Azerbaijan regulates mechanisms aimed at normalizing  bilateral relations.

The minister noted that from an institutional point of view, when it  becomes clear that the conflict has come to an end, from that moment  on there will be no need for the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group.   "For now, the rhetoric heard in Baku gives grounds for justified  concerns," said the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs.