Armenia and Azerbaijan have announced the successful conclusion of negotiations on a peace agreement. The Prime Minister of Armenia has discussed this development in phone conversations with the Presidents of Russia, Iran, and France. The announcement has been welcomed at the highest levels by numerous regional and extraregional states, as well as by representatives of NATO, the European Union, the League of Arab States, and others. The central message is that the signing and ratification of the peace agreement will contribute to the establishment of stability and formally close the chapter of conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Nevertheless, discussions regarding the feasibility of signing and implementing the agreement persist. References to Azerbaijan’s demand for amendments to the Armenian Constitution have led to speculation that Armenia’s agreement to the peace deal may have caught the Azerbaijani side off guard. Consequently, attempts are seemingly being made to identify alternative reasons to delay the signing and ratification of the agreement. These assumptions have been further reinforced by three statements released by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense on March 16, alleging that Armenian armed forces had opened fire in the southeastern section of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.
Despite this, the international community’s response remains optimistic, thereby restricting Azerbaijan’s ability to sabotage the process. The European Union’s monitoring mission was the first to officially declare that no unusual activity had been observed along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. Subsequently, U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Woltz placed a call to Baku, speaking with Azerbaijani Presidential Aide Hikmet Hajiyev. During the conversation, Woltz not only urged the completion of the process but also underscored the importance of releasing Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan, effectively linking this issue to the peace agreement. Furthermore, Woltz highlighted the concept of the “American Golden Age” as a guarantor of peace and prosperity.
Ultimately, the United States’ endorsement of the peace agreement appears to be driven by its own strategic interests. Given these developments, it can be inferred that Azerbaijan’s potential attempts to delay or derail the signing of the agreement will likely encounter strong resistance from the international community.
Photo by Euronews
Robert Ghevondyan
