Why does Armenia continue contacts with Azerbaijan despite Baku's additional demands?

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan explained why contacts with Azerbaijan continue despite Baku's additional demands.

Answering the question at a press conference on Monday about the meaning of these contacts when the approval of the draft peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan was announced four months ago, but the process stopped due to Baku's new conditions, Mirzoyan agreed with the statements on the new demands: the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group, and the amendments to the constitution of Armenia.

Mirzoyan recalled that the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group was acceptable for Yerevan, since the establishment of peace is an institutional process. That is, if the agreement is signed or even the day of its signing is recorded, joint steps are possible to dissolve the OSCE Minsk Group. According to him, Azerbaijan’s avoidance gives reason to think that the dissolution of the Minsk Group may serve other purposes for Baku, which will violate Armenia’s territorial integrity.

“We want to make sure that we establish complete peace, then the Minsk Group is not needed,” Mirzoyan added.

Regarding the constitution of Armenia, the FM repeated that first, this is Armenia’s internal agenda, and constitutional reforms have been discussed since 2018. Apparently, their implementation will begin after the next elections.

According to Mirzoyan, if Azerbaijan truly sees problems with the constitution of Armenia, then the most direct way is to sign the peace document. As the minister explained, there is an agreement—i.e. the Almaty document—on recognizing the territory within the borders of the ex-USSR at the time of its collapse. The only body authorized to interpret the constitution of Armenia is the latter’s Constitutional Court. And if it declares that the peace agreement does not contradict the constitution of Armenia, then the matter is closed. But if the decision is otherwise, then there will be a need for action.

And contacts between Armenia and Azerbaijan, according to Mirzoyan, are necessary to explain all this to each other, solve problems, and find ways.

“I hope that contacts will lead to the signing of the [peace] agreement and the resolution of other issues,” concluded the Armenian foreign minister.