ANTALYA, Turkey (Reuters) – Armenia is willing to sign a peace agreement with Azerbaijan if Baku demonstrates the same level of political determination, and is eager to move forward in normalizing relations with Turkey, a senior Armenian official stated on Saturday.
In December, both Yerevan and Baku expressed their desire to reach a peace deal after years of conflict, but as of yet, no agreement has been finalized.
For decades, the main point of contention has been the Nagorno-Karabakh region within Azerbaijan. In September, Baku’s forces regained control of the mountainous area after years of being under Armenian control, leading most ethnic Armenians to flee to Armenia.
Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan emphasized that Armenia possesses the necessary political resolve for normalizing relations with Azerbaijan, based on principles previously agreed upon by both sides.
“This issue revolves around political determination and leadership,” he told Reuters during an interview at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey.
He mentioned that Yerevan has exhibited the required political will, including during discussions on Friday between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Turkey, who support Baku.
“Now, if the Azerbaijani side truly desires peace, we just need to agree to document the agreed principles by the leaders and sign it,” he added.
One unresolved matter is the lack of consensus regarding their shared border, with both sides controlling small areas within each other’s territory.
Kostanyan emphasized the necessity for both sides to acknowledge each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, while highlighting Yerevan’s “Crossroads for Peace” initiative to establish communication lines in the region for enhanced regional stability.
There was no immediate response from Baku to his statements.
WORKING TOWARDS IMPROVED TURKEY-ARMENIA RELATIONS
As a member of NATO, Turkey has strengthened its political and military connections with Azerbaijan in recent years, while also striving to rekindle relations with Armenia following years of hostility after cutting off diplomatic and commercial ties in 1993 in support of Azerbaijan during the Nagorno-Karabakh war.
Kostanyan expressed Armenia’s desire for a full normalization of relations with Turkey, which includes reopening their shared border and establishing diplomatic ties.
“Establishing diplomatic relations essentially entails communication between two states,” he stated. “Naturally, reconciliation between two nations may take longer, but we need to establish diplomatic ties to benefit our countries and people.”
He mentioned that Yerevan has undertaken the necessary steps to reopen borders with Turkey, such as repairing infrastructure, and is awaiting a response from Ankara.
Primary points of contention between Turkey and Armenia include the alleged killing of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire in 1915, the precursor to modern Turkey.
Armenia contends that these events constitute genocide, while Turkey acknowledges that many Armenians died in clashes with Ottoman forces during World War One, but disputes the figures and denies that it was systematic.
(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Huseyin Hayatsever and Timothy Heritage)
