Armenia and Azerbaijan will not sign a peace treaty at the European Political Community summit in Granada in October, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said.
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“Unfortunately, no,” the politician answered the corresponding question.
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He emphasized that the peace agenda is a priority for Armenia and Yerevan wants to sign a peace treaty as soon as possible – for example, by the end of this year or the beginning of next year.
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“We will continue intensive negotiations and reach a solution to the problem,” Pashinyan said.
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As the prime minister explained, the process is negatively affected by the crisis in Karabakh due to the blockade of the Lachin corridor connecting the region with Armenia.
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Pashinyan also emphasized that he is obliged to consider it possible to sign the agreement before the end of the year, since he has taken on the corresponding political commitment.
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In addition, the politician commented on the proposal of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to hold a quadrilateral meeting of the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Russia. Pashinyan noted that there are different proposals and he does not want to highlight this one.
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In September 2020, fighting resumed in Nagorno-Karabakh, continuing a long-term conflict. Azerbaijan and Armenia made several attempts to conclude a truce and on the night of November 10, through the mediation of Moscow, they agreed to completely cease fire, remain in occupied positions, and exchange prisoners and bodies of the dead. The Kelbajar and Lachin regions, as well as part of the Agdam region, came under the control of Baku. Russian peacekeepers are stationed in the region. Later, Baku and Yerevan, through the mediation of Russia, the United States and the European Union, began discussing a future peace treaty.
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In April 2023, Azerbaijani border guards established a checkpoint on the border with Armenia, in the Lachin corridor. Yerevan regarded this as a gross violation of tripartite agreements and stated that blocking the Lachin corridor led to a humanitarian catastrophe in Nagorno-Karabakh.
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Against this background, in May Pashinyan said that Armenia recognizes the sovereignty of Azerbaijan along with the territory of Karabakh. Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev responded then that a peace treaty could be signed in the near future if Yerevan does not change its position.
