During a recent phone call between Prime Minister Pashinyan and US Secretary of State Blinken, the Armenian leader expressed positive views on the demarcation process of the Armenia-Azerbaijani border. He acknowledged the concerns of residents in specific villages and assured that efforts will be made to address these concerns.
The Tavush-Kazakh border has been a source of tension for years, with protests erupting in Tavush and other regions of Armenia against any demarcation process that might alter it. However, both Yerevan and Baku have agreed to align certain parts of this border with the inter-republican border that existed at the time of the Soviet Union’s collapse. This move is seen as a step towards normalizing relations between the two countries.
Pashinyan and Blinken highlighted the importance of agreements made during a recent quadrilateral meeting in Prague for the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process. The Alma-Ata Declaration, recognizing territorial integrity and sovereignty, is seen as a significant milestone towards signing a peace treaty between the two countries.
Pashinyan also stressed the implementation of agreements from a previous meeting and mentioned the “Crossroads of Peace” project developed by Armenia. This project aims to open regional communications based on principles of sovereignty, equality, and reciprocity. It is hoped that this initiative will pave the way for greater cooperation between Armenia and Azerbaijan in other areas as well.
On the other hand, Baku has not yet given a position on this initiative. Secretary of State Blinken had previously welcomed the agreement on the Alma-Ata declaration as a foundation for border demarcation. The American side has not provided details on any further discussions or negotiations that may have taken place during their recent phone call with Pashinyan.
Overall, while there are still challenges ahead in resolving conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijan, both leaders seem committed to working together towards finding common ground through peaceful means.