NA member: Armenia cannot change its geographical location, and the  country needs a formula for coexistence

ArmInfo. Armenia is making every effort to advance the peace agenda. Chairman of the RA National Assembly Committee on Foreign Relations Sargis Khandanyan told  journalists on April 2.

According to him, constructive steps are being taken to support the  peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, citing the agreement  reached on the text of the draft peace treaty and Yerevan's proposal  to begin negotiations on the venue and timing of signing. "It is  necessary to continue working in this direction, as the process is  not one-sided. Despite the existing challenges, we were able to reach  an agreement on some issues - full coordination of the text of the  treaty, work on delimitation of borders, etc.," the parliamentarian  said. Khandanyan also mentioned his unsuccessful attempt  to hold a  meeting of deputies of the Committees on Foreign Relations on the  border, which was rejected by Azerbaijan. "In Baku, I was called a  populist, but for me personally this is not a problem, as the  initiative is aimed at achieving peace. I did not receive an official  response, but I saw public speeches and statements in Azerbaijan,"  the deputy emphasized.

In response to a question about Ilham Aliyev's statement that  Azerbaijan does not set any preconditions for Armenia and discussions  regarding the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group and changes to the  Constitution of the Republic of Armenia over the past 2.5 years,  Khandanyan pointed out that in reality preconditions are being  discussed in this case. Armenia's stance on these issues is very  clear: the matter with the Constitution is an internal affair of the  Republic of Armenia, and the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group is  possible if a peace treaty is signed. Sargis Khandanyan finds it  illogical for the issue of Armenian prisoners of war to remain on the  agenda after the peace treaty is signed. Many international  organizations and states are addressing this issue. "I just learned  that a group of British parliamentarians has demanded their  government take urgent actions to release our compatriots," the RA NA  deputy emphasized. He added that regardless Armenia's desires, it is  necessary to consider the presence of a neighbor like Azerbaijan.  Armenia, in turn, cannot change its geographical location. "In order  for our country to have lasting presence in the region, we must be  able to compromise, and find a formula for coexistence," the RA NA  deputy said.