Most news agencies reported this news with a “breaking news!” tag: The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the completion of negotiations with Armenia on the preparation of a peace agreement. The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the news and noted that it is already in talks with Azerbaijan regarding the time and place for signing the peace agreement! But what is really happening?
First and foremost, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the statement regarding the completion of work on the text of the peace agreement. However, at the same time, the foreign ministry reminded everyone: “The main condition for signing the agreement is the amendment of the Armenian Constitution, specifically the removal of claims against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan—this is Azerbaijan’s long-term and principled position.” Furthermore, Azerbaijan “demands the official abolition of the outdated and non-functional OSCE Minsk Group and its related structures.”
Now, let’s take a behind-the-scenes look. The completion of the agreement’s text in diplomacy does not necessarily mean that the signing process is imminent.
Another issue is that by announcing the discussion of the time and place for signing the peace treaty, the Armenian Foreign Ministry is trying to put Azerbaijan in a hopeless position and force Baku to sign the treaty without constitutional amendments. This would leave Armenia with a loophole for revanchism and the renewal of its claims on Karabakh in the future.
Let’s recall: Armenia has already attempted to turn the signing of the peace treaty into a “diplomatic Formula 1,” particularly by trying to secure the agreement’s signing during COP29. Azerbaijan, for understandable reasons, refused to sign a rushed document instead of a full-fledged peace treaty. However, it seems that Armenia has not learned from its previous failure. Once again, it is trying to impose a formal document on Azerbaijan instead of a comprehensive peace agreement.
Meanwhile, key issues remain unresolved. One of the main ones is the necessity of amending the Armenian Constitution, as Azerbaijani diplomats have reiterated. Yes, Nikol Pashinyan has spoken about adopting a new Constitution, but our country needs more than just words and hints—it requires a real cleansing of the Armenian Constitution from “Miatsum” (the concept of unification). Otherwise, signing a peace agreement simply makes no sense.
Moreover, while the peace treaty’s text is supposedly agreed upon, Armenia continues to openly prepare for revenge. Yerevan is purchasing offensive weapons, establishing offensive-type strongholds on the border, and financing various terrorist groups such as VOMA and “Yerkrapah”…
And finally, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, speaking at the opening of the 12th Global Baku Forum, not only stated that Azerbaijan cannot and will not forget the years of occupation but also emphasized:
“We know about the suffering of the Azerbaijani people and the damage caused by Armenian aggression. We have witnessed the barbarism in our liberated territories. Entire cities and villages were wiped off the face of the earth. They deliberately carried out such actions against our villages, cities, our religion, and our historical heritage. Sixty-five mosques were destroyed.”
Ilham Aliyev continued: “As a result of the Khojaly genocide, 613 people were killed, including more than 100 women and 60 children. But we must look to the future. We must establish peace in the South Caucasus.”
However, as Baku reminds, for peace to be established, Armenia must fulfill the necessary conditions. First and foremost, let us reiterate: Armenia’s Constitution must be amended, and territorial claims against Azerbaijan must be permanently abandoned—not just in words but in official legal documents, including internal Armenian legislation.
Armenia must pay compensation for the crimes it committed on Azerbaijani territory. This includes massive urbicide (destruction of cities), looting of natural resources, and environmental damage… Experts suggest that the compensation amounts could reach tens of billions of dollars.
Finally, Armenia must cooperate with the judicial process currently underway in Baku, which has already been informally dubbed the “Azerbaijani Nuremberg Tribunal.” And this cooperation must go beyond mere words—Armenia must extradite individuals suspected of committing crimes against humanity to Azerbaijan.
If, against this backdrop, Yerevan is trying to present the completion of a 15-article agreement as an imminent signing of a peace treaty, while simultaneously attempting to pressure Baku into signing it without constitutional amendments—then what is really happening?
Is Yerevan truly ready for peace, or is Nikol Pashinyan once again engaging in political deception? And ultimately, what is the real motive behind this “diplomatic acceleration”—is Armenia genuinely seeking peace, or is it playing a “Ribbentrop game”? Is it using the peace treaty as a cover while continuing preparations for revenge?
There is no need to remind anyone how much the peaceful future of the region depends on honest answers to these questions.
